All children deserve the opportunity to explore and discover faith for themselves, and children with faith have the right to express and develop their faith through the education system without being marginalised, ridiculed or bullied. But in the UK, faith understanding (also known as religious literacy) is generally poor amongst policy makers and educators, making it difficult for Christian families to feel supported and equipped during their children’s education.
Therefore, we seek to engage with education policy so that young people with faith can see themselves reflected in the curriculum, systems and structures of schooling, and to support parents as they raise their children in line with their religious beliefs.
Jesus spoke of children being capable of having true and living faith, and the Evangelical Alliance wants to see this reality respected. Schools can be positive places where diverse worldviews and beliefs systems can be respected and accommodated without attempting to diminish or remove them from a neutral secular system that prioritises non-religious belief.
Across the UK, as changes have been made to relationships and sex education, the Evangelical Alliance has sought to ensure that a perspective which aligns with the biblical view of sex and marriage is present in the curriculum. We have also encouraged the respective governments and departments to prioritise teaching about non-sexual relationships such as friendships. We have advocated for the child of faith, who may face bullying and marginalisation because of their beliefs, and have encouraged diverse perspectives to be represented.
In Wales, we have recently worked with other faith groups and the Interfaith Council of Wales to engage with the Senedd on the proposed Curriculum Bill for Religion, Values and Ethics. This has involved defining different worldviews and defining what religion means. Ultimately, we want children to see themselves reflected in the curriculum they are taught, and this means advocating for their rights and ensuring different perspectives are reflected.
“But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David, ’ they were indignant. ‘Do you hear what these children are saying? ‘they asked Him. ‘Yes’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read: ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?’” – Matthew 21:15 – 16
