(de-news.net) – The Association for Education and Upbringing (VBE) has put forward a proposal for the establishment of nationwide Islamic religious education in German schools. VBE President Gerhard Brand articulated the association’s belief that all students, regardless of their faith, should have access to comprehensive information about both their own religion and others. He urged policymakers to ensure that such educational programs are made available in schools, supported by adequate personnel and resources. Additionally, Brand emphasized the importance of regularly evaluating, optimizing, and expanding existing pilot programs, with the long-term aim of creating a widespread and systematic offering.

In parallel, Stefan Düll, President of the German Teachers’ Association, posited that religious education, delivered by state-certified educators in public schools, could serve as a countermeasure to the influence of extremist ideologies, such as those propagated online by radical preachers. Düll underscored the critical need for early language and cultural instruction, particularly for children from households with limited proficiency in German, in order to facilitate the integration of key societal values, such as gender equality and individual freedoms, as enshrined in Germany’s Basic Law. Several German states, including Bavaria, Hesse, Saarland, and Lower Saxony, have already implemented Islamic religious education in their schools.