Reports of religiously motivated bullying incidents involving non-Muslim students and teachers in German schools have prompted the Education and Care Association (VBE) to advocate for comprehensive Islamic religious education across the country.
Gerhard Brand, federal chairman of the VBE, emphasized the association’s commitment to creating a space where students of all faiths can openly discuss their beliefs while gaining relevant information about their own and other religions. He has urged policymakers to prioritize the provision of such opportunities within schools, ensuring adequate staffing and resources for immediate implementation, with the ultimate goal of establishing a nationwide program.
Brand highlighted the importance of continuously evaluating and optimizing existing model programs for Islamic religious education, advocating for their rapid expansion. The long-term vision includes the stabilization of this offering and, eventually, the nationwide introduction of Islamic religious instruction.
Several states, including Bavaria, Hesse, Saarland and Lower Saxony, already offer Islamic religious education programs. Stefan Düll, President of the German Teachers’ Association, echoed this sentiment, arguing that education can serve as a preventative measure against extremist viewpoints. He suggests that religious instruction, provided by qualified and state-certified teachers, can counter fundamentalist influences potentially transmitted through family or online sources.
Furthermore, recognizing the needs of children and adolescents in households with limited German language proficiency, Düll underscored the importance of early language acquisition coupled with the introduction to key cultural foundations of German society, as outlined in the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). This includes principles such as gender equality and the right to individual self-determination.