Civil society to explore interaction between faith and education

21 January 2009

Seminar takes forward mandate given by Heads of Government to promote tolerance, respect, enlightened moderation and friendship among people of different races, faiths and cultures

Civil society will start exploring the interaction between faith and education beginning with Islam as a case study at a seminar at the Commonwealth’s headquarters in Marlborough House, London on 21 January.

The seminar organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) will speak to the themes of faith, culture and education in the Commonwealth. The seminar will also draw on Christian experience presented by the Church of England.

Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation helps civil society organisations promote democracy, development and cultural understanding.

This seminar takes forward the mandate given by Heads of Government to promote tolerance, respect, enlightened moderation and friendship among people of different races, faiths and cultures as well as explore initiatives to promote mutual understanding and respect in the Commonwealth.

The Economist on Civil Paths to Peace

The Economist commended Civil Paths to Peace for “some nuggets of very tough-minded thinking about the dangers of putting people into neat boxes – and the cynical way in which ethnic or tribal warlords or nationalist and religious zealots always try to shoehorn people into simple, unchanging categories because it suits their political purposes, and keeps conflict on the boil”.

The question of how people and communities with different identities can respect and understand each other and work together to advance development and social cohesion was addressed in the publication Civil Paths to Peace. This report of the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding, chaired by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, comments on the policies of some Commonwealth countries to promote the role of faith institutions in education

“It is the responsibility of schools, faith based or otherwise, to inculcate values of respect and understanding for all religious groups while at the same time develop capacities for critical thinking to promote continuous social change without being divisive” said Dr Jyotsna Jha, Education Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, who is also one of the panellists at the event.

The Faith and Education seminar will explore the counter-argument that religion matters hugely to the identity of Commonwealth’s citizens and attempts to engage with people have to acknowledge and harness these beliefs.

In education, the reality is that for millions of young people in developing countries, faith structures are major and critical providers of education. At the seminar, Dr Abdou Filali Ansary, Director of AKU-ISMC will discuss the way that faith-based organisations have been providing education in Islamic countries.

His presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on the role of faith in education and teaching religion in schools. There will then be an opportunity for responses to the questions raised and challenges posed by faith in education and the potential for future collaboration between AKU-ISMC and the Commonwealth.