Religious studies will soon be on the curriculum for city schools, after the Calgary Board of Education approved a plan to teach world religions but declined to endorse faith-based facilities.
All high schools will offer a class exploring the major world religions, and administration was asked to come up with an implementation plan and timeline by May.
As well, the board is considering setting up a committee of local religious leaders to examine how religious study could be included at the elementary level.
The religious studies motion passed unanimously, but a bid to introduce faith-based schools into the system was defeated.
Trustee Gordon Dirks says that's short-sighted, and called approving religious studies the easy way.
"The challenging, but forward-thinking challenge, would have been to embrace alternative faith-based schools, as other jurisdictions in our province are doing," he said. "In my mind, they get it."
The board also re-affirmed its policy on religious-based holidays, such as Christmas and Ramadan, being welcome in schools.
Trustee Pat Cochrane says it's a good idea as long as celebrations from all faiths are recognized.