The introduction of the new school subject "Christian Religion according to Protestant and Catholic Principles" (CRU) for the 2026/27 school year in Lower Saxony is an innovative step in religious education. Osnabrück University is providing academic support for this process with a research project focusing on the first two years of implementation.
"We are really breaking new ground with the CRU," says Prof. Dr. Jan Woppowa from Osnabrück University. Together with Prof. Dr. Bernd Schröder and Prof. Dr. Kerstin Rabenstein from the University of Göttingen, the religious education specialist is leading an interdenominational and interdisciplinary study that is being funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with around € 227,000.
In Germany and throughout Europe, there has long been a development towards a form of teaching that provides a suitable learning opportunity in the area of religious education and value orientation for as many pupils of different denominations as possible; however, there are no concrete role models for the new school subject model. "The CRU builds on the existing denominational-cooperative religious education that has long been established in Lower Saxony. However, it pursues new goals, such as a more pronounced and visible denominational sensitivity to differences in teaching on the one hand and ecumenism on the other, right through to a completely new curriculum development," explains Woppowa. There are therefore quite a few expectations of the subject.
"The first two years after its introduction are particularly exciting for us," says the researcher. "We want to investigate how the new subject differs from previous religious education in Lower Saxony and how it is introduced and implemented in everyday school life." The focus of the praxeological study is therefore on the practice observed in schools with an impact on teaching and understanding of the subject, as well as the question of what potential the CRU offers for the promotion of ecumenism in schools and beyond. To this end, the research team accompanies schools of different types and conducts interviews with teachers and multipliers.
Further information for the media:
Prof. Dr. Jan Woppowa, Osnabrück University
Institute of Roman Catholic Theology
E-mail: jan.woppowa@uni-osnabrueck.de
