Recently in Spain the theme of the teaching of religion in public schools was at the centre of a public debate, and undoubtedly this remains an open debate in many parts of the world. “The teaching of religion in primary and secondary courses – said Msgr. Demetrio Fernández, Bishop of Cordoba – is not a privilege of Catholics, but an acknowledgement of the freedom of religion”.
Project “Zain” is included in the context of Edebé Publications educative project, and has been thought according to the educative-pastoral Project of Salesian schools. The Edebé Publications consider religion as a sector of the school curriculum. A didactic innovation was included in the project, with integrated activities, habits of thought, project, difference between individual and cooperative learning, work and assessment of competences
The project is named after the letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is present in the entire project. For instance, there are seven units per course. Numerically this is formed by 4 + 3. Number 4 is the horizontal axis, whereas 3 is the vertical one – with the look oriented towards God. Between the vertical and the horizontal axes, the meeting point is Jesus.
On the other hand, this project represents a novelty, because if offers teachers an accompaniment through theological formation and ongoing didactic skill, in the internet and with guide books.
Zain projects bets on digital resources. A great variety of resources can be downloaded from the web. Finally, this is a project that aims at opening its way in a delicate political context, in which the option for the teaching of religion is opposed, and in which the use of books is even more contrasted.
