http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10119609.html
04/20/2007 12:07 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: Schools in Bahrain are to be given new religion courses that promote moderation and respect of all sects, education sources yesterday told Gulf News.
The new standards encouraging studies of the various Sunni and Shiite schools of thought, promoting common features among Sunnis and Shiites and shunning fanaticism and violence will be implemented in the next academic year starting in September.
“The education specialists who devised the new curriculum have favoured readings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) that are moderate, oppose extremism and radicalism and support an open look at past and modern developments based on tolerance and mutual acceptance,” said the sources who wished not to be named.
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10119609.html
04/20/2007 12:07 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: Schools in Bahrain are to be given new religion courses that promote moderation and respect of all sects, education sources yesterday told Gulf News.
The new standards encouraging studies of the various Sunni and Shiite schools of thought, promoting common features among Sunnis and Shiites and shunning fanaticism and violence will be implemented in the next academic year starting in September.
“The education specialists who devised the new curriculum have favoured readings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) that are moderate, oppose extremism and radicalism and support an open look at past and modern developments based on tolerance and mutual acceptance,” said the sources who wished not to be named.
Religious education in Bahrain where the leadership is Sunni and the majority of the citizens are Shiite has come under criticism for allowing school books that included chapters questioning rituals by Shiites and ignoring some of their religious leaders.
Several Shiite scholars and deputies in the 2002-2006 parliamentary term have called for changes in the textbooks and for giving the Shiite sects greater prominence in the syllabus.
“The education ministry has for the last three years been amending the textbooks, adding and taking out chapters in order to reach a consensus on the material presented to the students,” the sources said. “Leading personalities known for their moderate views and who are accepted by all sects in Bahrain have been highlighted.”
Amendments
The amendments which include dropping negative attitudes towards practices and activities that could hurt the sensitivity of any religion or sect have been approved by Islamic affairs authorities in Bahrain and are likely to be welcomed by local and international communities that have called for a more tolerant religion syllabus in the Middle East.
But the sources insisted that the changes were introduced under the social and political reforms launched by King Hamad. “There was no influence from outside forces that tried to influence the ministry choices,” they said.
