A plan agreed by the Flemish Government to replace religion and ethics classes in schools with a course on "interphilosophical dialogue" has triggered strong reactions from secular organisations.
The new Flemish Government, formed in the early hours of Saturday morning, has already announced several policy plans it has agreed for the next term.
One of these is to replace specific philosophical subjects, such as religion and ethics classes, in official education with a course on "interphilosophical dialogue".
But according to deMens.nu, an umbrella organisation of secular humanists, and RIKZ.Z (Council for Inspection and Quality Assurance of Non-Confessional Ethics), the Flemish Government lacks the authority to make this change.
They argue that the Belgian Constitution, particularly Article 24, safeguards the freedom of philosophical education and this kind of curricular change can only be made at the federal level with thorough consideration. The organisations note that Article 24 of the Constitutions currently requires public schools offer a choice to pupils between learning about one of the recognised religions, or non-confessional ethics.
They say that if a uniform "interphilosophical dialogue" course is given instead – in which different beliefs are discussed together – pupils in public schools will no longer have the option to receive dedicated lessons on their own religion or worldview.
The organisation questions the balance between different faiths and notes that the change will only happen in official education while the Catholic school network will not have to amend its curriculum. It also queries how meaningful discussions about various beliefs can occur if students lack the space to first learn about their own beliefs.
Both deMens.nu and RIKZ.Z have called for a constructive dialogue about the future of non-confessional ethics, to reassure some 130,000 students who take these classes, as well as their parents.
