TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, April 5, 2011: The government will move to make religious education mandatory at all schools, Education Minister Dr. Tim Gopeesingh announced on Sunday. “The Ministry of Education…intends to implement a new system of religious education in our schools,” he said while delivering a feature address at a youth forum hosted by the Hindu Students Council. Gopeesingh elaborated, “Under this reviewed curriculum, all schools, whether they are Government, denominational or private, will be mandated to teach religious education as part of their timetables,” he said, “but not in the same manner as done before.”
He added, “Under our revamped system, all religions and their teachings will be taught to students under the heading of religious education.”
“This change is aimed at fostering proper knowledge of the teachings, values and morals of all religions among our children from as early as the primary school level, with a view to engendering not just educational learning, but also, tolerance and acceptance of all religious groups by all citizens in our country,” Gopeesingh said.