Special Religious Education (SRE) is a voluntary program in State Schools in New South Wales.
The details on this page are provided at the request of the New South Wales Department of Education.
SRE complements the general education of Macedonian Orthodox children. The lessons include much more than Bible knowledge. SRE classes focus on the Orthodox way of life and identity.
They help develop the religious sense of each child in accordance of the Orthodox Christianity. For instance, they are shown how to pray, how to make the sign of the Cross, how to understand the Bible, and the importance of the Sacraments in our life.
Children are taught the hymns of the Church and they are acquainted with the Liturgy and Feasts of the Orthodox Church in the annual cycle.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (MOCDANZ) encourages all its members to be involved in Special Religious Education to enrich local school communities.
Participation is free and entirely voluntary and only at the discretion of the parents or guardians.
Scripture teachers are volunteers who are approved, authorised, and trained by the local parish and MOCDANZ. SRE can only be provided by a religious group approved by the Department of Education.
MOCDANZ is an approved provider of the Department of Education NSW.
Modes of delivery
MOCDANZ authorises and trains volunteers to deliver an approved curriculum.
SRE Teachers must have the appropriate Working with Children Check and evidence of their clearance is kept on record in the Diocese and the local parish.
MOCDANZ has a system is in place to ensure that all special religious education teachers attend initial and ongoing training in classroom management and child protection issues.
