“Discover Islam” pioneering project for primary education

MADRID A pioneering education project “Discover Islam” has been presented in Madrid, designed to teach Islamic culture and religion in State schools, to contribute to mutual understanding and dialogue and to promote religious freedom. The project, published in the form of a Primary Education textbook by the Catholic publishers SM, has the same or similar format to those books which are used as a teaching support for the Catholic religion. It will be continued into Secondary and higher education under the title “Know Islam”. These teaching materials were an initiative by the Union of Islamic Communities in Spain (UCIDE), with the support of the Spanish Ministries of Education and Justice, in the latter case through the Religious Affairs Department, and with financial support from the Foundation for Pluralism and Harmony. During a press conference in Madrid, the director general of Religious Affairs, Mercedes Rico, explained that, on introducing teaching of the Islamic religion in schools, it was noted that there was a distinct lack of teaching materials necessary for this purpose, not just for children but also for their parents who have lived in Spain for years. Rico also said that the book was the answer to the right of parents to have their children receive the religious education they choose. Jose Maria Contreras, director of the Foundation for Pluralism and Harmony, which paid the 42'000 euros for the publishing of the book, highlighted two advantages of the project: the process of normalisation of equality in education; and that of mutual respect and collaboration. l Riay Tatary, pictured, President of UCIDE, thanked both Ministries for their support.