Letters to researcher: parents’ ideals concerning Islamic religious education in Finnish schools

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the wishes, ideals, and experiences expressed by parents of Finnish Muslim students regarding Islamic Religious Education (IRE). Over the past decade, research on IRE and the integration of Muslims into public schooling has been growing. However, this research could further contribute to approaches and studies in intercultural and culturally responsive education. These fields typically prioritise equity and respect for diversity but often overlook specific issues related to religious diversity. In Finland, IRE has been seen as a place for supporting the formation of the Muslim identity of young Muslims. However, the different perceptions of religious education at home and school have caused tensions in IRE. The research data consists of the parents’ letters (n = 87) collected via a multilingual survey, analysed with qualitative content analysis. The findings highlight that IRE is highly sensitive to the role of teachers, who are viewed as agents of Islamic tradition. We discuss the implications of the findings in the intersection of intercultural and religious education.