German Education Union Calls for Expansion of Islamic Religion Classes in All States
VBE urges comprehensive Islamic instruction in schools across Germany, highlighting the need for students to learn about their faith under state supervision
The German education union Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE) has called for Islamic religion classes to be introduced in schools throughout all federal states. VBE chairman Gerhard Brand emphasized that all believers should have the opportunity to discuss and learn about their faith openly at school. He urged politicians to act quickly to support this move, citing the importance of equal religious education.
Currently, Islamic religion classes are already available in several German states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Saarland. Brand suggested that existing pilot projects should be evaluated and expanded to meet educational needs, underlining the importance of making these classes more widely accessible across Germany.
Stefan Düll, president of the German Teachers’ Association, argued that state-supervised religious classes can help counteract extreme views spreading through families or radical preachers. With an estimated 5.5 million Muslims living in Germany, experts believe that Islamic religion classes in public schools can play a vital role in promoting understanding and integration in society.
