Challenges Persist for Islamic Education in Spain

Despite years of advocacy, Islamic education remains largely absent from the Spanish education system, The New Arab reported yesterday.

A recent four-year pilot program in Catalonia aimed to introduce Islamic religious education as an elective but concluded without plans for permanent integration. This initiative was tied to the 1992 cooperation agreement, which entitled Muslims in Spain to religious education in schools—a right that has faced political neglect.

Factors contributing to the lack of Islamic education include limited awareness among Muslim families about their rights, a general misunderstanding of Muslim identity, and a rise in Islamophobia, which has seen a significant increase in hate incidents in recent years.

Teachers involved in the Catalonia experiment reported positive feedback from students, arguing that excluding Islamic education fosters societal segregation. They emphasize that integrating such education is crucial for fostering understanding and respect among diverse student populations. Meanwhile, countries like Belgium and Germany have successfully included Islamic education in their curricula, highlighting a growing recognition of the need for inclusivity in education.