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The Aims of Religious Education in the National Curriculum of Cyprus

In the National Curriculum of Cyprus (Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, 1996, p.128), the subject of religious Education is under the title ‘Christian Orthodox Education’. Particularly, the main purpose of ‘Christian Orthodox Education’ is that:

Pupils have to realize that they are members of the Christian Orthodox Church, to learn the fundamental truths of Christianity and to experience a loving relationship with God.

(Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, 1996, p.128)

In addition, the national curriculum of Cyprus (Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, 1996, p.128), demonstrates a variety of aims for ‘Orthodox Education’.

These aims are presented below:

  • To begin with, pupils should be enabled to understand the presence of God throughout the history and the apocalypse of God as an answer to the fundamental questions of human existence.
  • Children must also experience the figure, the teachings and the work of Jesus Christ, as the highest contribution of God for the multilateral fulfillment of man.
  • Children need to experience the Christian way of love towards all people, regardless color, religion and race.
  • Children should be introduced to the basic aspects of other religions and develop a critical attitude towards them. In this way, they will become able to understand and respect the religious beliefs of other people.
  • ‘Orthodox Education’, provides pupils with the skills to appreciate the meaning of the Orthodox ethics, traditions, prayer and to make them part of their everyday life.
  • Pupils should also appreciate the beneficial influence of the Orthodox Church to the development and progress of civilization.
  • Apart from these, ‘Orthodox Education’, also develops children’s understanding of the collective worships of the Church and encourages them to participate in these worships.
  • Children have to respect the value and importance of the various ecclesiastical monuments.
  • Finally, ‘Orthodox Education’, needs to promote children’s responsibility for the continuation of the Orthodox faith and way of life (Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, 1996, p.128).

However, religious education is based not only on the aims of the syllabus of Cyprus, but it is also based on the aims of the syllabus of Greece. Some textbooks are edited by the Ministry of Education of Cyprus and some others, are edited by the Ministry of Education of Greece. Obviously, the textbooks edited by the Ministry of Education of Greece are based on the aims of the Greek syllabus. Therefore, it is very important to present the aims of religious education in the Greek curriculum. In particular, the main purpose of ‘Christian Orthodox Education’* in Greece is:

To teach pupils the Christian Orthodox way of life, tradition and values, to develop their religious identity and to enrich their relationship with God.

(Ministry of National Education and Religions, 1993, p.87)

Besides the main purpose of ‘Orthodox Education’, the Greek syllabus demonstrates some additional aims. Firstly, ‘Orthodox Education’ aims to teach children the meaning, the symbols and the tradition of the Orthodox faith. Secondly, children have to experience a loving relationship with God and with their fellow man. Thirdly, children should understand the meaning of the Gospels and appreciate the moral and spiritual values of Orthodox Christianity. Finally, they have to realize that they are members of Jesus’ family, so they have to participate in the collective worships of the Orthodox Church (Ministry of National Education and Religions, 1993, p.87).

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Maria Krasia
PhD student (Open University) and Religious Education teacher
Email: mariakrashia@mail.gr
Tel: 00 357 9952 6428

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Page last updated April 4th, 2008
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