Compulsory Religious Teaching in Schools

Compulsory Religious Teaching in Schools

The Education Act 1996 provides that when in an educational institution there are five or more pupils professing the Islamic religion, such pupils shall be given religious teaching in Islam by teachers approved by the State Authority. (As matters pertaining to Islam are state matters, the teaching of the religion will be provided by state appointed teachers).

The Act also stipulates that the subject be taught for a period of at least two hours a week within the period of general teaching of the educational institution, or within such other period as the Minister may decide, in the case of any particular educational institution.