Implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Muslim Children in Europe: A Case Study on Islamic Schools in the Netherlands

 The aim of this presentation is to discuss how Muslim community in Europe has interpreted the need of comprehensive sexuality education and in what way their response was made. Close attention will be paid towards the... [ view full abstract ]

 The aim of this presentation is to discuss how Muslim community in Europe has interpreted the need of comprehensive sexuality education and in what way their response was made. Close attention will be paid towards the education materials developed for Islamic schools in the Netherlands.

      In December 2012, Dutch government decided to make it compulsory on all schools to teach about sexual diversity in the society, by making the “core objective (kerndoelen)” revised. In this country, there are about 50 Islamic schools fully subsidised by the government under the Dutch formal education system. The obligation made them to seek for a complete education material about sexuality and puberty from Islamic point of view, and after several years of consultation with experts, in 2015, they completed materials to be used at Islamic schools.

   As a result of analysis of the materials in comparison with those generally used at Dutch schools, several characteristics were identified. First, the materials used at Islamic schools are consisted of two versions; one for girls and one for boys, whereas others are not necessarily separating versions based on gender. It can be explained that gender-based approach is considered to be an important element for Islamic schools. Second, the information on homosexuality was elaborated by making the balance between the general principle of Islam towards homosexuality and the reality of sexual diversity in their living society. Based on the curriculum, Muslim students are expected to learn what is the principle of Islam, and at the same time, how to deal with the sexual diversity.

   There is no one single approach for CSE in multicultural societies. Learning and trying to understand the perspectives of religious minorities may facilitate an idea of taking various methods of teaching for effective implementation of CSE.