TIRANA, April 12 – The Ministry of Education is planning to introduce religious education as a new subject in the next academic year.
The pilot project, will initially be launched in ten schools across the country, and includes five secondary schools and five high schools.
The decision has raised fears that the classes will affect secularism in the education system.
“There is no room for misunderstanding, but only for comprehension to give the possibility to Albanian youth a better understanding of religions and the culture they promote,” Education Minister Lindita Nikolla told the media.
The classes on religious history will be taught by teachers who will undergo special training. n Minister Nikolla categorically excluded the teaching of classes by clerics, while she invited critics to become part of discussions regarding the change in the school curricula.
Meanwhile, the name of the subject that will teach students about the various religious faiths, their history and rites is yet to be determined.
The government’s initiative has received the backing of religious communities in Albania.
The Catholic Church in Albania expressed its support for the idea saying that there has been a gap in the country’s education system on the issue and that the subject is already taught in school in many European countries.
However, the Catholic Church highlighted the need for well-trained teachers.
The head of the Muslim Community in Albania Skender Brucaj also was in favor of the initiative by saying that people should be given the possibility to get to know religion even through public schools.
“An individual who knows God, knows about respect for the others and the society in general. Whoever knows God is self aware of his contribution to society. There is no reason to be afraid of religion and getting to know God,” Brucaj said during the inauguration of a mosque in Kukes, northeastern Albania.
However, the government’s initiative has sparked some controversy with many critics fearing the decision goes against secular values.
“The Ministry of Education has to understand that religious education and religion are identical. Hence, hasty declarations that they are introducing religious classes, but not religion are not to be made,” Artan Fuga, a professor at Tirana University, commented on social media.
Last week, Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled plans for public schools to open the doors to religious education during an activity organized by the Muslim Community to commemorate the birthday of prophet Mohamed. The Prime Minister also stated that the government’s project to teach pupils about religion not only does not affect secularism, but it is also an important tool against religious extremism.
