San Marino. Now of religion in infant schools, the Christian Democrats reject the criticisms
“We are amazed by press releases such as that of Libera, or by what can be read on social networks regarding the delegated decree of 3 October 2022 n. 140, which introduce the curricular indications for the teaching of the Catholic religion, thus definitively standardizing this subject with the other curricular subjects of the San Marino school, already published in annex ‘A’ to the delegated decree of 29 September 2021 n. 169, and for the teaching of Ethics, Culture and Society in the annex to the delegated decree of 19 September 2019 n. 144, and replacing with them the contents already present in the annual programming of the matter”.
The declares it San Marino Christian Democratic Partyunderlining in a note that “the wonder, in particular, derives precisely from the absolute lack of awareness, not to say lack of knowledge, of the fact that such contents are already present in Italian school curricula where, moreover, in elementary schools thereligion teaching it is equal to specialized subjects also in the number of hours (2 hours per week per class) and in the Infant School it is assigned 1.5 hours per week”.
“In this sense, however, with respect to Italy, the Agreement signed in 2018 between the Republic of San Marino and the Holy See, ratified by both countries, and the Agreement signed by the Government of San Marino and the Diocese of San Marino -Montefeltro in 2019, did not change the already existing teaching structure of the Catholic religion, confirming the number of hours, 1 hour per week for high, middle and elementary schools, as already defined – explains the Pdcs -. Rather, this legislation has regulated access for all teachers of the subject (lay and religious or priests), only in Primary and Secondary School (Lower and Higher), and only through the public rankings held by the Personnel Office, to which it is possible to enroll only if resident in San Marino and in possession of the required qualifications, also recognized by the Miur”.
And again: “Regarding the nursery school, however, always in continuity with what was already foreseen in the agreement signed between the government and the diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro in 1994, the government-diocese agreement confirmed that the teaching of religious culture’ must continue to be entrusted to the teachers in charge of the section, taking into account the specific educational needs related to the age of the children and the very particular conditions in which they work, and for which all the activities are included in the curricular programming and organize according to specific criteria of flexibility. Therefore, there is no introduction of the religion hour in Kindergarten, but rather, as for all other teaching subjects (mathematics, science, literature, foreign languages …), the skills goals and objectives are introduced of learning for the teaching of religion, for children of that age range, the planning and implementation of which will be the responsibility of the tenured teachers”.
The Christian Democratic Party of San Marino, therefore, “can only underline the value of this decree which, after more than 30 years of indeterminacy, and precisely following the agreements signed and mentioned above and the recent Agreement for overcoming precariousness, confirms the teaching of Catholic religion and to teachers of this subject the same dignity as other curricular subjects”.
“A subject that teaches children elements of the Catholic religion and of other religions, deeply important for the purposes of learning their own cultural roots and the ability to dialogue with other cultures and peoples, whose religions characterize the ways and lifestyles of the people. In this sense, in particular, no one can deny the great importance that this subject can have for San Marino children and young people, precisely for the purpose of gaining knowledge of their historical roots and popular traditions, especially in a country like San Marino, which among its it has its peculiarity, as unique in the world, that of being a secular state founded by a man, whom the people themselves have elevated to Patron of their Republic, because he is recognized and venerated as a Christian saint”, finally says the governing party.