Integrating Islamic Education into Spanish Schools: A Continuing Struggle
After years of advocacy by Muslim families and civil society groups, Islamic education has made its way into a few schools across Spain as part of pilot programs. Recent discussions have revolved around the success and challenges faced by such initiatives, like the four-year experiment in Catalonia that recently concluded without a clear path to permanent integration.
In response to this, Professor Francesc-Xavier Marín highlighted the lack of interest from the administration in establishing Islamic education permanently. He emphasized the importance of normalizing the teaching of Islam in schools to respect the rights of Muslim students.
The initiative also aimed to address the lack of qualified teachers for Islamic education, which was recently supplemented by the introduction of an Interuniversity Master’s Degree program. However, obstacles like Islamophobia and a lack of understanding of Muslim identity continue to hinder progress.
In light of these challenges, stakeholders like Jordi and Lina Ball Ben Boubaker are pushing for systemic changes in the Spanish education system to provide a more inclusive environment for Muslim students. They stress the importance of acknowledging the historical demand for Islamic education and its role in fostering tolerance and respect in schools.
While progress remains slow, the hope is that ongoing efforts will eventually lead to a more diverse and inclusive educational landscape in Spain.
About the author: Bianca Carrera is a freelance writer and analyst specializing in Middle Eastern and North African politics. Follow her on Twitter @biancacarrera25.