Analysis and Comparison of Religious Education Needs of Secondary School Students in Terms of Cognitive, Emotional and Functional Needs

The current paper aimed at an analysis and comparison of religious education needs of secondary school students in terms of cognitive، emotional، and functional needs. A sample of 300 students (150 girls، 150 boys) was drawn through stage cluster sampling method from among all secondary school students in Jahrom city. The participants were administered a questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability indexes. Data analysis involving Kendall coefficient، independent sample t-test and Chi-square indicated that: as regards the cognitive needs، understanding the concept of religious pluralism، religious research methodologies، and familiarity with other religions took the highest priority and the need to learn to trust God had the lowest priority. In terms of emotional needs، learning how to be committed in the absence of Imam Mahdi (AS) and learning about resurrection took the highest and lowest priority respectively. with respect to the functional needs of the students، participation in Friday Prayers and to learn how to fast were، respectively، of the highest and lowest priority. A comparison of boys and girls suggested that the girls significantly differed from boys in terms of cognitive needs، but no significant difference was indicated as far as the emotional and functional needs were concerned. The students had varying priorities in regard to the skills. In terms of cognitive domain they needed further training and the needs comprised cognitive، functional and emotional needs in the order of priority.