Religion and Schooling: The European Context

Abstract

Chapter 1 has pointed to the changing role of education in schooling across Europe. There are two levels at which religion can impact on education practices: at the macro level, by impinging on the way the educational system is organized, and at the micro level, in terms of the types of schools parents choose for their children. At the macro level, both State provision of religious education and the position of faith schools are of particular interest. While most European countries have a well-established network of faith schools, the level of support that these schools receive from the State varies substantially. At the micro level, questions of which parents choose to educate their children at faith schools, as well as the reach and profile of those schools, are worth investigating.