Rhineland-Palatinate: Ministry wants schools to be Islam-friendly

The Culture Ministry of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, led by the SPD, plans Islam-friendly classes, reports news magazine Focus, based on a circular currently being distributed to teachers.


The guidelines recommend offering sex-ed in gender-homogeneous groups and segregated gym and swimming classes from puberty. School trips should, as much as possible, not be planned for the month of Ramadan. The sensitivities of Muslims should be taken into account when planning internships and school events. Fasting could lead to loss of performance and concentration among the students, the authors warn. It is difficult if they have to deal with a lot of schoolwork during Ramadan, and so flexible solutions should be found.

Malte Blümke, head of the state's teacher's association criticized the project and said it was anti-enlightenment and anti-emancipation, and that it's given up on the tradition of learning together.

The new guidelines were not discussed with the schools, teachers' associations, and school boards. The teacher's association urges Culture Minister Doris Ahnen (SPD) to immediately withdraw the guidelines. The head of the German teacher's association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, said the circular was a 'guide on how to stir up conflicts with my students', and said it was a 'segregation-paper' and not an 'integration paper'.

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