Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/811845
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 11 Respondents who do not attend mass are marginally more likely to agree to the teaching of Islam in state schools (49.5% against 41%) but are opposed to the teaching of Islam in Church schools (63%). Younger respondents are also more likely to agree with the teaching of Islam in state schools. Agreement with the compul- sory teaching of ethics but not to the exclusion of religion is also stronger among these who do not attend Sunday mass. But 82% of those who do not attend Sunday mass agree that the Catholic reli- gion should remain Malta's offi- cial religion. A majority in this category would still not vote for a Muslim candidate (64%) or for an atheist candidate (52%). Moreover 32% of non-churchgo- ers still would like their children to exclusively learn the Christian religion compared to only 12% who would like their children to only learn about universal values through ethics. 60% of University educated favour Islam in state schools While 60% of university-educat- ed respondents favour the teach- ing of Islam in Church schools, support for the teaching of Islam in Church schools among this cat- egory falls to 28%. This could reflect the greater likelihood of this category hav- ing attended a Catholic school. In fact among those who attended a Church school opposition to the teaching of Islam in Church schools rises to 67%. 'Not in my school' The survey shows that while 47% of respondents who attended a Church school agree with the teaching of Islam in state schools, only 32% agree with the same thing happening in a Church school. But the greatest discrepancy is found among those who have attended a private non-Church school. Among this category, while 57% agree with the teaching of Islam in state schools, only 29% agree with the same thing happen- ing in Church schools. This suggests that the middle class that frequents private in- dependent schools tolerates the teaching of Islam in state schools where their children are less likely to attend, but are not so keen for the same to happen in Church schools where their children are more likely to attend. It may also suggest that respond- ents schooled in Church schools are more likely to defend the Catholic ethos, which has been traditionally defined through ex- clusion of other religions rather than their inclusion. On the other hand, secondary- educated respondents who op- pose the teaching of Islam in state schools are slightly more likely to accept the teaching of Islam in Church schools (33%). University-educated more liberal While the university-educated are opposed to the teaching of Is- lam in Church schools, they are still the most secular in their ap- proach to religious teaching. 60% of university-educated re- spondents agree with the compul- sory teaching of ethics but only 10% of this category would like ethics to substitute religion en- tirely. Support for removing the con- stitutional reference to Roman Catholicism as Malta's official re- ligion is also highest among this category (24%). The university- educated are also most likely to vote for an atheist candidate. Younger respondents would vote for an atheist 65% of under 35-year-olds would vote for an atheist candidate com- pared to only 38% who would vote for a Muslim candidate. This sug- gests that this age group may be more secular in its outlook but still displays islamophobic traits. This contrasts to only 10% of over-55s who would vote for an atheist candidate and 9% who would vote for a Muslim candi- date. Opposition to the teaching of Islam in Church schools is high- est among 35 to 54-year-olds who are most likely to have school age children of their own. Among this category 54% disagree with the teaching of Islam in state schools compared to 42% of over-55s. In fact while an overwhelming majority of over-55s will not vote for a Muslim candidate, a majority in this category favour the teach- ing of Islam in state schools. Methodology A total of 689 respondents were contacted. 450 accepted to partici- pate. The results were weighed to reflect the age and sex balance in the latest census. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.6 points. MaltaToday Survey Should ethics be thought to students? In school you would like your children to learn: A B C D E All respondents 32.7% 7.9% 39.8% 3.1% 16.5% Aged 18-34 26.5% 17.6% 47.1% 2.9% 5.9% Aged 35-54 34.1% 5.5% 43.9% 2.2% 14.3% Aged 55+ 34% 4.4% 32% 3.7% 25.9% University education 30% 10% 50% 0 10% Post-Sec educ. 34.8% 13% 41.3% 2.2% 8.7% Secondary educ. 32.5% 4.6% 43.1% 1.5% 18.3% Primary educ. 35.2% 3.2% 17.6% 8% 36% Attends Mass 35.8% 3.6% 33.4% 2.6% 24.6% Doesn't attend Mass 25.3% 12.1% 45.5% 4% 13.1% A Only to those who opt out of catholic religion B To everyone instead of religion C To everyone while religion should still be thought as a subject D It should not be thought E Don't know A B C D E F G 44.1% 32.4% 3.5% 5.8% 4.6% 0.8% 8.8% 23.5% 52.9% 5.9% 8.8% 5.9% 0 2.9% 47.3% 30.8% 6.6% 5.5% 7.7% 1.1% 1.1% 57.8% 20.7% 1.7% 3.7% 3.7% 1% 11.4% 34% 34% 14% 14% 4% 0 0 26.1% 50% 2.2% 6.5% 13% 2.2% 0 57.9% 23.9% 3.6% 2.5% 5.1% 1% 6% 61.6% 14.4% 0 3.2% 0.8% 0.8% 19.2% 57.9% 24.8% 2% 2% 3.3% 0.3% 9.7% 32.3% 31.3% 9.1% 12.1% 9.1% 2% 4.1% A Only about the catholic religion B Mainly Catholicism but should include some information on other religions C On all religions and spiritual thoughts equally D On universal values through ethics E They should learn both ethics and religion F They should learn about ethics and religion only at home G Don't know Should the constitution continue to recognise the Roman Catholic religion as Malta's official religion? Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+ All respondents University Post-Secondary Secondary Primary Attends Mass Doesn't attend mass 73.5% 20.6% 91.2% 92.2% 87.1% 70% 24% 87% 94.4% 94.4% 93% 81.8% 15.2% Did you attend mass last week? 18-34 35-54 55+ All Yes 29.4% 51.6% 83% 55.1% No 64.7% 46.2% 12.2% 40% Was indisposed 5.9% 2.2% 4.8% 4.9% Yes No Don't know