Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh says the introduction of the study of religion in primary schools can make a dent in crime in the coming years. He made the comment yesterday after opening a two-day United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) workshop on comparative religion at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Couva. He said teaching religion, ethics and values "will redound to the benefit of the communities, the benefit of the students themselves and their families." He said people in communities would have respect for each other and the country as a whole.
"With greater self-esteem and greater understanding of these areas there will definitely be a drop in criminal activity," he said. He said the reduction in crime comes hand-in-hand with "the academic achievements, the sporting achievements, spiritual achievements and the integration of the child, socially and culturally." Gopeesingh added: "The child will realise his or her own full potential. "All these things are the value outcomes of what we want a child to be and therefore if we achieve that and we focus on early childhood education and primary school immediately I think we will have some desired outcomes in few years from now.
"The national community, as a whole, recognises the need for increased teaching and the inclusion in the curriculum of values and ethics and the teaching about religion in terms of understanding our cultural and religious diversity. "Understanding and appreciating the diversity of religion is going to be a major component in the thrust in the review of the primary school curriculum." Gopeesingh said the ministry was facing a lack of volunteers to teach religious Instruction in secondary schools. He said he would approach the Inter-Religious Organisation to dispatch personnel "who are tremendously knowledgeable in the field of their religions" to assist with the programme.