In an effort to combat religious extremism in Egypt, the Ministry of Religious Endowments plans on introducing a new academic textbook to be used in the beginning of the academic year in September. The Ministry has been accused of cancelling the religious education in schools thus it clarified that this initiative, formerly announced in April, is to further vitalize the importance of decent behavior and religious tolerance among students of different backgrounds and beliefs. As Muslim and Christian students were previously separated into two separate religious education classes in Egypt, the idea of students learning from the same curriculum has arisen noticeable irritation amongst religious conservatives. “Do we really need the new book when religion books contain all the values and ideals contained in it?” asks Salafist preacher Sameh Abdel Hamid. Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa- the Relgious Endowments’ minister -insists that this book which has been pre-approved by both Al-Azhar, the country’s leading Islam authority, and the Coptic Orthodox Church, is to accompany and support the religious education in the schools of Egypt but not replace the current curriculum. “The new textbook tries to teach that difference is not a sin…
Same Textbook for Muslim and Christian Students in Schools Despite Opposition
May 25, 2018
