Germany Introduces Islam In School Curricula

Berlin, Germany (AHN) - Germany will soon introduce the Islam religion to its school curricula. The move aims to help Muslim immigrants integrate with their new homeland and acquire as well German language skills.

So far pilot studies to measure the effect of teaching Islam religion to immigrant students in German language showed that in Lower Saxony there were lesser schoolyard brawls between Arab and Turk students in schools where the course was taught. Migrant parents of these students were beginning to participate in parent-teacher conferences.

Among the first lessons taught to the migrant children, which blends a western influence, is that women are entitled to authority. It also serves as a good venue for answers to everyday life that may involve the migrant children's faith such as the use of nail polish and wearing of headscarves.

A request to offer Islam religion has been made since 1978, but it was only recently that it became a reality. Germany is host to 3 million Muslim migrants who have 800,000 school-children.

The program, because it is on its early stages, needs refinement, said German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.