Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/803478
4 PAUL COCKS ONE seemingly innocuous com- ment by the country's archbishop has ostensibly set alight the indig- nation of many Maltese at the mere thought that children of Muslim faith attending Church schools should be given the opportunity to learn Islam. Even a quick scan of comments on maltatoday.com.mt reveals a vocalised misunderstanding of the Catholic leader's proposal. Archbishop Charles Scicluna two weeks ago said he was open to the recommendation that chil- dren of Muslim faith – and only them – attending Church schools, have classes in Islam while other students have their normal (Cath- olic) religion classes, a comment inspired by the closure of the Mari- am Albatool school in Paola, which catered for some 200 students of mainly Muslim faith. But even that distinction does not seem to satisfy many. MaltaToday has learned that even the heads of Church schools are split as to whether making Is- lam, or other religion classes avail- able in Church schools would be viable, or even palatable to parents and in line with the raison d'etre of Church schools. While many heads of school failed to answer questions put them by MaltaToday, some de- ferring to a common statement penned by the national delegate for Catholic Education, others were more forthcoming. What emerges is a discrepancy in outlook and perception from a body of schools that until recent- ly was clamouring for a stronger Catholic ethos across the board. Education minister Evarist Bar- tolo on Friday took to Facebook in an attempt to clear the waters and add some 'officialise' to the com- ments and rumours. following the statements made by the archbish- op and Imam of the Paola mosque Mohammed Elsadi. Bartolo said that, at the moment, State schools offered Ethics classes for those who choose not to attend Catholic religious studies. "We have been approached by Muslim Maltese citizens, who wish their children start receiving in- struction in Islam while at school," he wrote. "As in the case of Catho- lic religion or ethics classes, these teachings in Islam would only be for those who specifically ask to attend and will not be compulsory for all students." Bartolo said that like all other subjects, Islamic studies would need to adhere to a programme ap- proved by the ministry and which would lead to SEC certification. "We will definitely not tolerate any teaching in favour of violence or of hate towards those who do not follow your own beliefs," he said. "All classes will be given by qualified teachers that would be approved by us, and all classes would have to respect the Consti- tution and laws of Malta, human rights and democracy." maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 2017 News Church school heads split over merits, Imam Mohammed Elsadi said 60 secondary schools students will lose religion lessons and hoped Muslim religious teaching be introduced in government schools, as already happens with Christian teaching. Archbishop Charles Scicluna, right, said Church schools should be open to the teaching of Islam 'Open to teaching other religions' – FR Silvio Bezzina, head of St Paul's Missionary College secondary school maintained that religion was a crucial subject to teach – as opposed to other subjects – be- cause it served a formative, as well as an informative, function. "This makes it a notch more dif- ficult to teach than other subjects, but it is what makes the subject of religion a beautiful, interesting, relevant subject to teach," he said. "To say it all … how many stu- dents actually need mathematics, history, biology (etc.) at a certain level of studies? Many or few. How many need to learn about the true meaning of life and existence, the values to be adhered to, the atti- tudes to foster, the ethos to hold close to heart? I would say, all." Bezzina said he was open to the idea of teaching other religions at SPMC, but would request a quali- fied person to teach the class, as was the case with any other sub- ject. Other issues, including logis- tics and administration, would also need to be satisfactorily addressed. Teaching other religions in Church schools would not go against their mission, he said: "In fact, there are many plusses." By way of analogy, Bezzina said that SPMC has a percentage of stu- Fr Silvio Bezzina A call for openness towards students of the Muslim faith inside Church schools by the Archbishop has not been welcomed by everyone Former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi during a visit at the Mariam Albatool school in Paola, which is located near the iconic mosque. Th e muslim community in Malta includes many Maltese native as well as naturalised citizens who feel Islamic religious teaching should be a right to children attending government schools.