Engaging Difference in Values Education in South African Schools

Abstract

This article, based on a descriptive review of the literature, considers the Values Education Initiative and traces recent developments in terms of policy implementation. Religion and religious content play an important and supportive role in helping to nurture democratic values, political literacy and nation building among the youth. In considering the teaching of religion education and its role in facilitating values education, by using an example of difference, such as the conflicting claims of religious identity, this article shows that problematising these contested issues in the context of current debates makes for more relevant and effective learning about democracy within religion education than the abstract and idealised exposition of democratic values. Religion education must be an integrated dimension of students' perceptions, experiences and reflections that need to form part of the discussions, which allow explorations of new content a well as dialogue where differences and contrasting ideas are deliberated. This will enhance the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes necessary to equip the student to function in an open and democratic society.