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Call for more religion to be studied in schools 'inappropriate'

The New South Wales Parents and Citizens Federation says putting religious studies into the national school curriculum is not appropriate.

St Michaels Catholic Church, the first catholic church built in Tonga

(AAP)

The Abbott government has announced a review of the curriculum with one of the men involved in the review process, Kevin Donnelly, making a case for more religious study.

Former teacher and ex-Liberal Party staffer Kevin Donnelly says the Judeo-Christian heritage should receive more attention in the school curriculum.

"When you look at Parliaments around Australia - they all begin with the Lord's prayer. If you look at our constitution, the preamble is about God," he told the ABC.

"You can't airbrush that from history - it has to be recognised."

However, Parents and Citizens Federation spokeswoman Rachel Snowden's told SBS that a greater focus on religion isn't needed.

"There's mandated times for special religious education and obviously religion is taught through part of history - around historical events which include religious events," she said. "But New South Wales public schools are secular, so the thought that we need more religious education in out schools is probably not true."

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Related coverage:

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Comment: National curriculum the latest target of Coalition's culture wars

National curriculum review: Who is Kevin Donnelly?


2 min read

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Updated

Source: SBS


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