Faith schools 'undermine' citizenship

Tuesday, 18 January 2005 12:00 AM

Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, has suggested that faith schools potentially undermine social cohesion in Britain.

In a speech on citizenship at the Hansard Society, the Ofsted chief warned that faith schools "must not put our coherence at risk", adding that Muslim, Jewish and Evangelical Christian schools must be "intolerant of intolerance".

Religious leaders have reacted with anger to his words, however, it was Mr Bell's comments in relation to Muslim schools which brought him in for the most criticism.

He said they must adapt their policies and curriculum to "acquire an appreciation of and respect for other cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony".

But the Association of Muslim Schools' chairman, Dr Mohamed Mukadam, has called on Mr Bell to produce evidence of Muslim schools failing to prepare children for British life.

"I think it's a misconception of Islamic schools and a further example of Islamophobia. For a person in his position to make such a generalised comment beggars belief," said Dr Mukadem.

He also pointed to statistics which show a higher proportion of youngsters from Muslim schools go on to further and higher education than those from state schools.

In his speech, Mr Bell criticised the way citizenship is being taught in the UK, saying it was failing in its aim to pass on understanding of democracy, public service and shared values to young people.

He added that his forthcoming report would pay particular attention to the problem of citizenship teaching in Muslim schools.

John Dunford, the general secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association (SHA) that it would be a "serious matter for concern, if it is true that some faith schools are not teaching the full breadth of citizenship.

"Many faith schools do teach about other beliefs and give pupils a rounded perspective of society in this country. However all schools have a responsibility to educate young people about the world outside their own background. It is vitally important for future of social cohesion in Britain that all schools do this."

He added that if the Government is to oversee a more diverse secondary school system, then "it must recognise the core responsibilities, including a broad citizenship curriculum, of schools of all types."

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