Resources for R.E. Teachers

In the United Kingdom, there is a perceived need for resources which can be used by teachers of Religious Education. Religious Education (R.E.) is a legally established subject in the National Curriculum, and is taught in any school teaching pupils up to the age of 16, but only one hour is expected per week. For practical reasons, the subject may often be taught by non-specialist teachers - in primary schools, each school may be small, and each teacher has to teach all subjects. Even in secondary schools the subject is not necessarily led by a teacher trained in the subject, and staffing and timetabling considerations may lead to a number of different teachers having to teach R.E. to the different groups of pupils within the school. In cases where the individual teacher, the R.E. department or even the Local Authority wish for the Bahá'í Faith to be "taught", the teacher(s) involved are highly unlikely to have a deep knowledge of, or grasp of, the Faith. It is therefore important to ensure that such resources are available to them.

The main body dedicated to helping such teachers obtain Baha'i resources is BREA (Bahá’í Religious Education Agency). The main body producing materials easily accessible to R.E. teachers is Warwick Bahá'i Bookshop. There are worksheets for teachers of R.E. available, and Warwick Bookshop also has packs of assorted materials.