New guidelines call for religious education to be broadened.

School pupils in Britain should have the opportunity to study the Bahá’í faith and other traditions, according to the first national framework for religious education.

The report from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority sets out the principles that all state schools should follow. It recommends that by the age of 16 pupils need to have studied Christianity as well as “encountered in sufficient depth” Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. They should also have been given the possibility to study the Bahá’í teachings, Jainism and Zoroastrianism, atheism and secular philosophies such as humanism.

The report says that pupils should be encouraged to reflect on “the important contribution religion can make to community cohesion and the combating of religious prejudice and discrimination””

The publication of the framework follows extensive consultation with then Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, religious groups, schools and parents. Launching the report, Mr Clarke said it “set out a system that places value on the ethos and morals that religious education can establish, independent of any faith”

RW