Mar 17 - Students Who Opt Out Of R.E Will Now Have Alternative GCSE
The Secular Humanist Society Gibraltar (SHSG) has announced that, as from this year, students who choose not to study R.E at GCSE will now be offered the alternative of a GCSE in General Studies. Although the group claims that this shows that R.E is no longer considered a ‘compulsory’ GCSE course, the Government has flatly denied this saying that it continues to be considered a core subject which remains compulsory for all pupils. It is only “in exceptional circumstances on the grounds of conscience or religious beliefs” that students may opt out of taking this subject.
The General Studies option is described by the SHSG as “a broad based curriculum, with modules in law, politics, human rights and even general religion as well as other categories that will benefit young adults in many aspects of life.”
The society adds that: “It is important that all students are free to choose what they wish to study and that they are able to achieve as many GCSEs as their peers who may wish to study religion. In order to take the alternative subject, students should inform their school, preferably in writing that they do not wish to be included in the R.E curriculum and would like to be placed in the General Studies course instead.”
A statement from the society continues: “It is hoped that there is a large swing to the modern and secular GCSE curriculum, so that a more balanced and realistic set of studies is offered to counteract the outdated and outmoded courses hitherto mandated as compulsory, which serve little or no purpose to those who believe in science, humanity and the pursuit of evidential truth.”
