Catholic Dialogue School

What is Catholic dialogue school?

Catholic Education Flanders launched the Catholic dialogue school model. This model is based on a concept of hospitality, recognizing active pluralism without giving up individuality.  

Objectives of the research project

Teachers

Support teachers to explicitly clarify the Catholic dialogue school project to future teachers through a learning pathway and challenge them about their role and vision for it.

College

Inspire the college to be an example of a Catholic dialogue school by e.g.

• pay attention to (pastoral) activities;
• articulate their own identity;
• be explicitly attentive to diversity.

Mandate

Reflecting on the mandate. Currently, a lot of future teachers (primary) are taking Catholic Religion because it also gives access to most Catholic schools.

• Can this mandate be maintained?
• What about future teachers who do not have a clear philosophical position?  

Process and results

In the first phase, much was compared about what is happening within various teacher education programs. 

Currently, the phase of deepening and development is underway:

• A first part of the learning path has been developed that teachers can use starting in 2021. What does school identity mean? What is Catholic dialogue school? A second section on personal and professional identity and impact of worldview is under development.
• A survey of possible pastoral activities, meaning, experiences and desires is underway.
• A survey in collaboration with KU Leuven on the philosophical background of teacher education students is underway with results expected in April 2021.
• The item mandate and diversity at the college is still in an exploratory phase.