Bulgaria’s three main religious communities have criticised government plans for the teaching of religion in the country’s schools.
The Bulgarian Orthodox church, the office of the mufti and the Catholic Church said on Wednesday that schools should focus on the teaching of religious doctrine instead of dealing with the origins, history and key ideas of major world religions, as proposed by the Minister of Education, Daniel Valchev, last week.
According to Valchev’s plans, religion should be an obligatory subject during the first eight years of schooling, and should include the study of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and the main Eastern religions.
The Orthodox Church objects to the minister’s concept, and says this type of curriculum is followed in only five EU countries.
It argues that Bulgaria should follow the example of 20 other EU states where schoolchildren study their own religion, and suggests that atheists should attend classes in ethics.
However, the Orthodox synod also insists on religion being an obligatory subject throughout the years of compulsory education, which is currently the practice in only five EU countries.
Members of the Association for Parental Activity have expressed concern over the teaching of religious dogma, rather than knowledge about different religions.
Sociologist Andrei Raychev said that according to surveys, 50% of Bulgarians do not believe in God, 25% believe there is some kind of vague, superior power in the universe, and only 25% belong to an established religious community.
"We want to hear the voice of the Church in some institutions," said Bishop Kirill of the Varna region by the Black Sea.
"The Minister's concept ensures that young people cannot fully believe in one religion."
Minister Valchev argues that the secular character of schools cannot be questioned.
"The debate will continue," he said. "If the opinions remain as diverse as they are, we cannot impose religion as a subject in schools."+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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