cogree

Tribute to Kaarina Lyhykäinen

ICCS news: It is with deep sadness that the Board and Trustees of the Inter-European Commission on Church and School (ICCS) share the tragic news of the sudden death of our colleague and friend, Kaarina Lyhykäinen. For many decades, Kaarina’s dedicated contribution to orthodox religious education in Finland and across Europe has been much valued […]

RE in Europe, which empowers? Inspiring exchange at EFTRE conference

EFTRE news: From August 21 to 24, 60 participants from 20 European countries gathered in Budapest for the triennial EFTRE conference under the theme “The art of empowerment.” The central question was how good religious education can contribute to greater commitment, compassion, and community in the classroom, at a time when people are becoming more […]

Religion 2nd most frequently named sensitive issue

The European School Education Platform led a survey among 354 teachers about teaching sensitive and controversial topics. The study offers a range of insights into the complexities and challenges of teaching these sensitive topics and the most effective strategies to overcome them. For instance, while 51% of respondents indicated that religion was a sensitive topic, […]

Cooperation between ICCS and CoGREE

ICCS news: The representation of ICCS as an NGO at the Council of Europe (CoE) will henceforth be carried out in cooperation with CoGREE. A joint meeting was held online on April 8, 2025, to formalize this collaboration. For over two decades, ICCS has been represented in NGO meetings at the CoE by James Barnett, […]

Farewell to Charity Status & New Perspectives for the Future – ICCS Board in Amsterdam

ICCS news: From 10 to 11 February 2025, the Board of ICCS gathered for an in-person meeting in Amsterdam. Participants included Heid Leganger-Krogstad, Tania ap Sion, Bianca Kappelhoff, and Werner Haussmann. The meeting focused on two main topics: the organisational restructuring of ICCS and initial reflections on its future direction. Dissolution of Charity Status Tania […]