AQW 40089/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 09/02/2026
Answered On Date: 18/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he will take to ensure that a wide range of (i) expertise; (ii) opinion, and (iii) cultural backgrounds, is brought into the new Religious Education curriculum drafting group.

Answer:

I have put in place a comprehensive and transparent process for revising the Religious Education (RE) Core Syllabus. My Department has launched an open expression‑of‑interest process, inviting applications from experienced practitioners across all schools in Northern Ireland. This open process is designed to attract a range of applicants from across school sectors, who can provide their subject knowledge and classroom experience to the drafting process. Applications will be assessed against the agreed essential criteria.

Alongside this, there will be extensive wider engagement. The specific approach is a matter for the Review Chair, Professor Noel Purdy OBE, but engagement will include an open call for evidence, public surveys, and focus group discussions involving children, young people, parents, and a wide range of other stakeholders. The process will culminate in a full public consultation.