ABSTRACT
The descriptive-qualitative study determined the experiences of learners on religious instruction in public schools and their implications on values formation program in the Schools District of San Enrique during the school year 2022-2023. In-depth interview was utilized to gather data. Phenomenology was used as the research designed of the study. A validated researcher-made interview schedule was used as an instrument to gather data. Voice and video recorders were also used to gather and document participants’ answers. Based on the results, it was found out that participants’ view religious instruction as teaching about God, teaching right values, and teaching how to pray. Likewise, it was found out that their experiences on religious instruction were learning how to pray, learning more about God, strengthening faith to God, and changing values.
Keywords: Religious Instruction, Public Schools, Values Formation Program
INTRODUCTION
Religious instruction is meant to provide opportunities for people to promote spiritual development through reflections on various religious topics such as the creation and origin of the universe, the concepts of good and evil, the faith in God, and the promotion of good values (Becker, 2022).
According to Legaspi (2000), the aim of teaching religion is not only to elucidate the doctrines of the church but also to inspire young minds to live up to their faith which can be manifested through their active involvement in the activities of the church especially during Sundays.
However, the teaching of religion has been a challenge to schools nowadays as learners and youths immerse more in temporal affairs and technology that consequently lead to them neglecting or escaping Sunday masses or any religious activities and worship.
This issue has become prevalent among learners that is why the state encourages the promotion of religious instruction to children in public schools in elementary and secondary within the regular class hours. The goal is to promote citizen values formation, particularly molding the youths (Roco, 2002).
According to Consecrated Persons and their Mission in Schools (2003), the church together with the educators have the responsibility to ensure that catechism is being taught in the public schools. However, this depend on the school’s context, as schools have different religious demographics.
Along with such concern, there is an immense need to have catechists who are competent, skillful and knowledgeable in handling religious instructions. The catechists should also respond to the needs of the time, foster deep faith and spiritually, and serve as witnesses of God.
As a response to this need, the Mary Help of Christians parish church has been forming and training their catechists and sending them to different public elementary schools in the Schools District of San Enrique.
In this light, the researcher conducted the research study to find out the experiences of learners in their religious instructions and their implications to the values formation program of the schools.
Schools District of San Enrique during the school year 2022-2023.
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