Queensland state schools embrace a multitude of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs. Under the
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, schools are to provide Religious Instruction (RI) if approached by a faith group seeking to provide RI and students of that faith attend the school.
RI informs students about the beliefs and values of a particular religion. It is delivered by volunteers of a faith group using instructional materials approved by that faith group. RI is required to be consistent with legislation and Department of Education policies and procedures.
All RI instructors must hold a blue card and participate in compulsory Student Protection and Code of Conduct training. RI instructors are only entitled to deliver the RI program outlined below. A school staff member will be present during the delivery of RI.
Participation in RI is not compulsory. Any student (except Prep students) may participate in RI if a parent has provided written instructions to the school.
Students are allocated to RI based on information provided by parents on the completed
Application for student enrolment unless other written instructions have been provided to the school.
Note:
This consent remains in effect unless the parent informs the school otherwise in writing.
A description of the RI available is provided below.
Christian Religious Instruction
Participating faith groups: Christian
Authorised program: CEP Connect
*Year 1: Beginning with God*
*Year 2-6 : Connect *
Connect is a three-year program presented across three levels of schooling – infants, lower primary and upper primary. The lessons are Bible based covering Bible history from creation to God's ultimate purpose. Each lesson introduces concepts, themes and major characters from the Old and New Testaments. Lessons also cover key Christian events such as Easter and Christmas. Students engage with the concepts through music, drama, reading and writing, puzzle-solving, drawing and asking questions.
Aims and goals: The aim of Christian RI is to inform students about the basic beliefs of the Christian Faith from an non-denominational perspective.
Lesson structure: Lessons will typically run for 25 -30 minutes per week.
For further information, including module and/or lesson descriptors visit:
https://cepconnect.com.au/images/uploads/Connect-scope-and-sequenceall.pdf
The cost of RI teaching manuals and student activity books is met by the combined churches represented by the members of the Warwick Christian Ministers' Association.
Other Instruction
Students who are not participating in RI will be provided with other instruction in a separate supervised location. Other instruction must relate to part of a subject area already covered in class and may include:
- personal research and/or assignments
- revision of class work such as creative writing or literacy and/or numeracy activities which could include online programs currently accessed by the students of that school (i.e.
Mathletics,
Reading Eggs)
- wider reading such as independent reading appropriate to the student
Parents will be advised of any changes to the RI and other instruction programs to ensure they are able to make an informed decision on their child's participation.