Islamic Schooling, Migrant Muslims and the Problem of Integration in the Netherlands

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

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10

Islam; Religious Schools; Immigrants; Muslims; Social Integration; Foreign Countries; Elementary School Teachers; Citizen Participation; Role of Education; Academic Achievement

10.1080/01416200.2019.1628004

0141-6200

In the Netherlands, Islamic schools and Islamic education in general have been subjects of public debate for quite some time. After the event of 9/11, they found themselves increasingly being criticised and some people in Dutch society go as far as considering them breeding grounds for terrorism and think they foster an anti-integration attitude among their students. In this article, however, I will demonstrate that Islamic education can function in and be adjusted well to the requirements of the local communities where Islamic education is offered to Muslims. I will argue that in the Netherlands teachers utilise Islamic primary schools to promote their students' integration into Dutch society, as their mission statements indeed explicitly state. The inclusion of civic education into the curriculum of Islamic schools is another indication that they seriously teach their students how to be good citizens who can actively participate in Dutch society. This article is thus to show that Islamic primary schools are well able to prepare their students both physically and mentally for integration into Dutch society.

As Provided

2021

EJ1288677