RELIGION IN EDUCATION: PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES

Abstract

The National Policy on Religion and Education emphasised the value of recognising the diversity of belief systems in South Africa, particularly in the school system. The document focuses on the South African Constitutional values while the framework is based on the cooperative model of legal separation and the possibility of creative interaction between religion and state. In order to implement this new approach in schools, both teachers and students from diverse religions and belief systems will be required to facilitate religions, values as well as belief systems other than their own, in a professional manner. Their professional skills in facilitating different belief systems may also be vital in the successful implementation of the policy in schools. This article reports on an empirical research with pre-services teachers on the factors that influenced their perceptions on religion in schools and multireligion education, in particular during their compulsory school practices.