Institute’s Hon Secretary/Director has been working with the Religious Education Council for last few years and lately has become one of their Trustees. During his time there he has been working consistently to gain recognition for Jain religion.
Two years ago, the first ever book on Jainism for the R E education in English Primary Schools, Learn Jainism was published by the Institute. Harrow Council was the first council in England to incorporate Jainism in their RE Curriculum. More councils are in process of incorporating Jainism in their curricula.
A second book in the same series in due to b e published soon to reinforce the inroads being made by the first book.
The efforts made by our Secretary and the publication of these books are begining to bear fruit as evidenced by the following article that appeared in Daily Telegraph written by their Education Editor on 29th January.
Primary schools should teach about Jainism and Zoroastrianism in RE
Children as young as five should be given lessons in minority religions such as Baha’i, Jainism and Zoroastrianism, according to Government guidance.
By Graeme Paton, Education Editor DAILY TELEGRAPH
Published: 6:12PM GMT 29 Jan 2010 “Pupils in primary schools should be taught about “world faiths”, even though many only have a few thousand followers in Britain.
Religious education classes should also cover atheism alongside Christianity and five other major religions – Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Hinduism.
It is the first time the Government has produced guidance specifically tailored towards primary schools, although teachers do not have to follow it.
Diana Johnson, the Schools Minister, said it was vital that children developed a good understanding of other people’s beliefs.
“This means learning about Christianity and other religions like Islam, Hinduism and Judaism, but also considering other secular beliefs such as humanism and atheism,” she said. “Our society has never been so diverse, and good religious education plays an important role in helping to keep this country a tolerant and inclusive place to live.
“RE goes much further than just helping children understand why different people believe different things: it also gives them the chance to ask questions about their own beliefs and spirituality, and provokes challenging ethical questions.”
Religious education is compulsory in all state schools. But it is not on the national curriculum.
Instead, syllabuses are drawn up locally by committees of officials, teachers and religious groups.
But critics claim it has led to patchy lessons across the country – leaving children ignorant of many minority faiths.
The latest guidance is intended to help improve the standard of lessons in primary schools.
The document says: “To ensure that all children’s backgrounds and experiences are taken into account, it is recommended that there are also opportunities to study other religious traditions such as the Baha’i faith, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism, and secular world views, such as humanism, where appropriate.”
The Baha’i faith, which believes all religions have true and valid origins, has around 6,000 observers in Britain.
Jains believe in living lives of harmlessness and renunciation and are often vegetarians or celibate. There are thought to be 30,000 in Britain.
Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster, who founded the religion in ancient Iran 3,500 years ago. Followers believe there is a cosmic war being waged between good and evil and number some 140,000 worldwide.
The Government’s guidance says that schools which have a significant religious community living nearby could learn about that faith.
“This could include, for example, traditional religions such as those from African countries or China,” it says.
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Whilst there is acceptance that the religion has to be taught to the children, we also have a task on our hands to ensure that news editors, journalists are provided with authoritative information on Jain religion and its practices.