Student Attitudes Towards Religious Diversity in Catholic schools in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa’s Policy for Religion and Education is linked to a broad range of initiatives celebrating linguistic, cultural and religious diversity. Public and independent schools are expected to implement the Policy and ensure that that they act in a religiously neutral way. This article highlights how students in Catholic schools understand religion in school and the impact of religions, via results obtained from the REDCo II (Religion in Education: A Contribution to Dialogue or a Factor of Conflict in Transforming Societies of European Countries) Questionnaire on Religion and School. It was especially important to understand how students experience religious diversity within a new approach to religious education in South Africa. The research findings show that students are very positive towards religious diversity which could be understood within the dramatic socio- political changes of the country as a backdrop. This study also underscores the inclusive nature of Catholic religious education.