RE framework launched

Education Secretary Charles Clark's National Framework for Religious Education has been officially launched. Read more here.

Drive to educate children about Islam

The BBC reports that the Muslim Council of Britain has launched a drive to equip schools in Britain with books, videos and CDs in an attempt to inform schoolchildren of the "true meaning" of Islam.

The initiative, aimed at Key Stages One and Two, has received the full backing of Education Secretary Charles Clark.

More here.

Be proud of your religion, says Pope

Catholics should not be afraid to speak about their faith, and should wear symbols and signs of faith in public with pride, the Pope said this weekend.

The pontiff's remarks may be taken to indicate support for Muslims and Jews, whose right to wear headscarves and skullcaps, respectively, has been the subject of great controversy in France recently, after a new law banned the display of "conspicuous religious symbols" in French schools.

Read more at the BBC website.

Tots to be taught tolerance

Scotland on Sunday reported today that Scottish children as young as three will be educated on "the horror of religious intolerance" in a drive to combat sectarianism.

A pilot scheme beginning next week will target the traditional Catholic-Protestant divide, as well as Islamophobia and prejudice against other faiths. Eventually the scheme will extend to all Scottish schools, hopefully by the academic year 2005/2006.

Full story here.