Changes in Religious Subjects and the Direction of Textbook Policy according to the Revision of The 2022 Curriculum

ABSTRACT

[Objective] The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning of the change in the religious subject in the 2022 revised curriculum, and to suggest the direction of textbook policy suitable for it.[Contents] This study revealed that the attempt to replace ‘religious education’ with ‘liberal arts education’ shrank and distorted religious education. The 2022 curriculum revision means reflection on the limitations of the previous curriculum. However, if the textbook accreditation review process is based on the paradigm of the previous curriculum, religious textbooks developed by each religion will still be rejected.[Conclusions] The conclusions of this study are as follows. It is necessary to recognize religious education in harmony with specificity and universality, and a policy of differentiated religious education between public schools and religious private schools is needed. Recognition of various types of textbooks, including textbooks developed by each religion, is required, and it is necessary to consider the religious education system considering the high school credit system.