Report finds an overwhelming number of students and staff think that colleges should provide for people’s faith and belief #FaithInFE

CEL and NEAFE publish report on making space for faith in FE Report: “Making space for faith: values, beliefs and faiths in the learning and skills sector.“

A national enquiry into the opportunities for spiritual and moral development in further education found that an overwhelming number of students and staff think that colleges should provide for people’s faith and belief.

The Centre for Excellence in Leadership’s (CEL) chief executive, Lynne Sedgmore, said:

“Understanding the views and needs of learners and staff on issues of values, beliefs and faiths is an important part of our commitment to ensuring equality and diversity of opportunity throughout the further education system.”

The full report on the enquiry published by the CEL and the National Ecumenical Agency in Further Education (NEAFE), offers a number of recommendations for the government, agencies, colleges, learning providers, churches and faith communities.

Launching the publication on this week, the Minister of State forLifelong Learning and Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell said:

“This report comes at an important time for further education when weare working with colleagues from across the system to review how to strengthen its contribution to community cohesion.

“Positively recognising learners spiritual and moral needs is part of this and will enable FE to provide a personalised learning experience and to contribute towards the prevention of extremism.”

The purpose of the enquiry was to build up a picture of:

• The role of the sector in enabling all members of society,irrespective of age, gender, ethnic background, values, beliefs andfaiths, to engage with one another in shaping a positive approach to21st-century pluralism
• The views of learners and staff in colleges and in workplaces onissues of values, beliefs and faiths
• How the system and its stakeholders could improve responses to learner and staff needs in relation to issues of values, beliefs and faiths in a way that is in keeping with the sectors economic, educational and social missions.

Lynne Sedgmore continued:

“We believe that faith issues should have a higher profile within leadership dialogue in the 21st century, and that the FE system has a valuable roleto play in encouraging community cohesion and providing opportunities for all. We are delighted to be involved with NEAFE in publishing the findings of this national enquiry.”

Keisha Nelson