Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring

This article explored the strategic integration of religious education within the framework of human rights literacy that is underpinned by philosophical values in South Africa during a period of significant educational reform. The study examined the integration of religious studies with human right...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dean Collin Langeveldt, Doniwen Pietersen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Noyam Journals 2024-11-01
Series:E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ERATS202410115.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1823860556549849088
author Dean Collin Langeveldt
Doniwen Pietersen
author_facet Dean Collin Langeveldt
Doniwen Pietersen
author_sort Dean Collin Langeveldt
collection DOAJ
description This article explored the strategic integration of religious education within the framework of human rights literacy that is underpinned by philosophical values in South Africa during a period of significant educational reform. The study examined the integration of religious studies with human rights education, emphasising the importance of human rights literacy in understanding religious diversity and promoting interfaith respect. The analysis examined key pedagogical changes, policy adaptations, and curricular innovations in South Africa’s educational system, forming an integrative pedagogical model. This examination also highlighted diversity on several levels. Internal diversity or differences in how members of the same cultural group or marginalised groups map and understand human rights in religious education. Foregrounded in this work are the educational psychology and sociology theoretical frameworks that intersect to enhance human rights literacy and religious education. The findings showed that the aforementioned educational fields are not just an academic exercise but a social imperative for a more inclusive and respectful place in global education. This conceptual paper focused on the South African experience, offering global insights that may resonate with the South African locality. It is recommended that South Africa’s religious curriculum be inclusive, requiring deep understanding and engaging content, to balance secular and religious education and uphold human rights. The study recommends developing an inclusive curriculum, engaging pedagogical strategies, comprehensive teacher training, and active learning to promote a balanced understanding of religious diversity and human rights. This study impacts scholarship by providing a robust theoretical framework, influencing curriculum development and policy support, and providing global insights for educational reform.
format Article
id doaj-art-2f9ee7f4818b4ba486138fd1d8117d4a
institution Kabale University
issn 2458-7338
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Noyam Journals
record_format Article
series E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies
spelling doaj-art-2f9ee7f4818b4ba486138fd1d8117d4a2025-02-10T12:14:54ZengNoyam JournalsE-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies2458-73382024-11-0110115664https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.202410115Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum RestructuringDean Collin Langeveldt 0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4160-1809Doniwen Pietersen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3050-589XSol Plaatje University: Kimberley, South Africa.University of South Africa, College of Education, Department of Educational Foundations.This article explored the strategic integration of religious education within the framework of human rights literacy that is underpinned by philosophical values in South Africa during a period of significant educational reform. The study examined the integration of religious studies with human rights education, emphasising the importance of human rights literacy in understanding religious diversity and promoting interfaith respect. The analysis examined key pedagogical changes, policy adaptations, and curricular innovations in South Africa’s educational system, forming an integrative pedagogical model. This examination also highlighted diversity on several levels. Internal diversity or differences in how members of the same cultural group or marginalised groups map and understand human rights in religious education. Foregrounded in this work are the educational psychology and sociology theoretical frameworks that intersect to enhance human rights literacy and religious education. The findings showed that the aforementioned educational fields are not just an academic exercise but a social imperative for a more inclusive and respectful place in global education. This conceptual paper focused on the South African experience, offering global insights that may resonate with the South African locality. It is recommended that South Africa’s religious curriculum be inclusive, requiring deep understanding and engaging content, to balance secular and religious education and uphold human rights. The study recommends developing an inclusive curriculum, engaging pedagogical strategies, comprehensive teacher training, and active learning to promote a balanced understanding of religious diversity and human rights. This study impacts scholarship by providing a robust theoretical framework, influencing curriculum development and policy support, and providing global insights for educational reform.https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ERATS202410115.pdfmappinghuman rights literacycurriculum restructuresouth africaphilosophical underpinningsreligious education
spellingShingle Dean Collin Langeveldt
Doniwen Pietersen
Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring
E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies
mapping
human rights literacy
curriculum restructure
south africa
philosophical underpinnings
religious education
title Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring
title_full Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring
title_fullStr Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring
title_short Mapping the Legal and Philosophical Aspects of Human Rights Education in Religious Studies Towards a Curriculum Restructuring
title_sort mapping the legal and philosophical aspects of human rights education in religious studies towards a curriculum restructuring
topic mapping
human rights literacy
curriculum restructure
south africa
philosophical underpinnings
religious education
url https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ERATS202410115.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT deancollinlangeveldt mappingthelegalandphilosophicalaspectsofhumanrightseducationinreligiousstudiestowardsacurriculumrestructuring
AT doniwenpietersen mappingthelegalandphilosophicalaspectsofhumanrightseducationinreligiousstudiestowardsacurriculumrestructuring