Description
The teacher of religious education deal with processes of teaching, learning and development of religion. They are active in the sector of religious education in schools.
In planning and defining teaching, religious education teachers take full account of didactic and pedagogical needs. They consider the age of the children and their respective needs and interests. For example, they take biblical themes, questions on faith and the meaning of life as their inspiration and relate them to current situations and problems of children and young people. At the same time they help the latter in the search for their own identity and promote religious competence.
One of the objectives of religious education teachers is to foster a culture of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. They transmit a sensitivity to the religious dimension of culture also to people of other confessions, teaching a respectful and tolerant behavior also touching the contents of the largest and most important world religions. The intent is precisely to open up to the human being and to the social dimension of the world.
In addition to this, they cultivate contacts with parents, other teachers and school management. Among their tasks there is also the organization of courses and educational proposals for free time. Usually, religious education teachers collaborate within parish bodies or working groups and help develop new ideas and new projects.
Requirements
- for teaching in elementary school: high school diploma or equivalent qualification;
- for secondary I: specific university bachelor’s degree in theology, philosophy or sciences of religions;
- for secondary II: specific university master in theology, philosophy or sciences of religions.
Working conditions
Religious education teachers can work in schools of all levels: elementary, middle, special, full-time vocational schools, high schools, etc. Their employment relationship is established solely in the form of an assignment, ie a fixed-term hiring.
Religious education teachers can also be active in parishes or other ecclesiastical institutions, as well as in socio-cultural associations.