In Alexandra College Religious Education is seen as an integral part of the development and awareness of young people. In an atmosphere of exploration and discussion we try to help students discover and deepen their spirituality while maintaining their own religious tradition.
At junior level we follow the NCCA Religious Education Curriculum for the Junior Certificate. This aims to provide students with a framework for encountering and engaging with the variety of religious traditions in Ireland and elsewhere. Students enjoy the challenge of examining moral issues and taking part in individual research for their coursework. In our classes we seek to promote an understanding of why people believe, as well as tolerance and respect for the values and beliefs of all people. All students are entered for the Junior Certificate. We also enter students for the Church of Ireland Synod Examinations.
In Transition Year we begin a search for Meaning and Values. This has wide scope and is tailored to the needs of each class. In Fifth and Sixth year, in a class, which is essentially pastoral, we explore moral issues using newspaper clips, videos and web-links. This course mirrors the Leaving Certificate course but is much less intense.
Leaving Certificate Religion has been offered in the College since its inception in 2005. This course aims to foster awareness that the human search for meaning is common to all peoples of all ages and at all times. It explores how the search for meaning has found and continues to find, expression in religion. This is a challenging and worthwhile course and one that our students enjoy because of its great variety of interest and issues. It is open to students of all religions and acknowledges the non-religious interpretation of life.
