Keynote at CCRS Conference

Dr Gareth Byrne, the Director of MDDCE, was the invited keynote speaker at the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies two-yearly National Review Conference, which took place in the United Kingdom at Hothorpe Hall, Theddingworth, Leicestershire, on 10/11 March 2020. Following on from the Report ‘CCRS twenty-five years on: One size fits all?’ the gathering sought to review progress on its reception and the implementation of its recommendations, stimulated by reference to issues of a similar nature in Ireland.

Dr Byrne’s theme was ‘Religious Education in Ireland with young people and adults: Review and renewal’. He brought the gathering from all over England and Wales up to speed with the changing landscape for religious education in Ireland, North and South. In particular, he drew parallels between the Certificate of Religious Studies available in Ireland to student primary teachers as part of their undergraduate or postgraduate preparation for teaching religious education, and the system in the United Kingdom.

Dr Byrne highlighted differences in the approach to religious education within the two nations, as well as the specific content needs associated with Share the Good News: National directory for catechesis in Ireland, the Catholic preschool and primary religious education curriculum for Ireland and the Grow in love primary school programme. A supplementary module on Religious Education in Ireland is provided, through MDCCE at DCU, for qualified teachers returning to Ireland from the UK and elsewhere, and seeking recognition to teach RE in Irish Catholic primary schools.

An important conversation also took place about adult religious education and faith development in conjunction with the AREFD postdoctoral research project ongoing at MDCCE. Since the 1991 review in England and Wales, providers have facilitated adult parishioners joining teachers on the various versions of CCRS programme. Some have struggled with this, focusing sometimes on one or other cohort. Others have established parallel courses for parishioners. In a moment when new approaches to adult religious education and faith development is of paramount importance in the Church in Ireland this proved a very instructive discussion.