CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
Malawi
The Bible and the Koran in schools
EDUCATION
All is not well between Malawi’s Muslims
and the government,
as the Muslims’ demands for the inclusion of Islamic studies
in the country’s education system has met with stiff opposition
from Christian church organisations
The issues even go further, as some Muslims have threatened to cause chaos and disobey the government. Although they have named some of the principal Christian Churches as «plotting to suppress their Islamic religion», the main issue seems to be serious differences between the Islamic community and the government. This has developed into sour relations with their Christian fellow citizens.
What’s it all about?
So what’s it all about? For some time now, Malawian Muslims, who claim to constitute 20% percent of the country’s population of 10 million people, have been fighting for the introduction of a multi-faith syllabus at secondary school level. They are demanding that the Islamic religion which they argue has been sidelined for a long time despite Islam’s long history in Malawi, should be included in the syllabus. Following their persistent pressure, the government instituted a Moral and Religious Education (MRE) task force to handle the matter. Although the task force that recommended the multi-faith syllabus, claimed to have consulted with the Christian Council of Malawi (CCM), the Muslims’ Association of Malawi (MAM) and the University of Malawi — the Christian community, which far outnumbers the Muslim community cried foul, saying no wide consultations had been made before the task force arrived at their recommendation.
A high powered delegation of the Christian Churches led by the Catholic bishops then met with President Bakili Muluzi (a Muslim) at Sanjika State House in Blantyre, where they told the President that he must rescind his decision. The President gave in to their demands. In their argument, the Catholic bishops, who, during the time of the late President Banda had not been afraid to condemn human rights’ abuses, protested that replacing the current Bible Knowledge Course with a Moral and Religious Education (MRE) Syllabus «would benefit a particular sect». Some Christians had previously pointed out that the Muslims were taking advantage of the situation since the President was also a Muslim. People recalled that early this year, following the Muslims’ demands, the government had introduced a public holiday in the first weeks of January to commemorate the Ramadan fast. They felt it would be going too far to accord the Muslims another favour by introducing multi-faith studies at secondary school level.
Muslim and Christian reaction
The Muslim community was profoundly irked when Muluzi announced the suspension of his previous decision until further consultations were conducted. The MAM told the President: «The Muslims in Malawi feel that your Excellency is bowing down to the wishes of Christians, especially Catholics, whose motive is primarily to marginalise Muslims. We are concerned with your new directive as it takes away the little we have achieved over the last 20 years». They warned the President there would be chaos if he refused to listen to their demands, saying that the introduction of the MRE syllabus had resolved «a long standing anomaly.» Commenting to the Press, MAM‘s secretary-general, Ronald Mangani, said: «We want to exist peacefully with our Christian brothers but that does not mean we have to suffer silently. Political unrest does not mean war only. We can boycott some political activities — and even ask our children to stay away from school,» he said.
Later, Christian leaders, represented by delegates from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi ECM), the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), among others, reacted strongly when they convened a meeting on 13 March this year. They unanimously recommended the retention of Bible Knowledge and also proposed religious education for primary schools, «until further consultations were exhausted.»
But even though Christian leaders have called for further consultations, it cannot be determined if they will, in the end, accept Islamic studies on the school syllabus. Already there are widely differing views among themselves. Ministers of the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), one of the biggest Christian communities (after the Catholic Church), held a meeting, but they could not come up with a resolution. Other synods in the central and northern regions of Malawi have yet to discuss the issue. «The issue is really sensitive, its needs diplomacy,» says the Blantyre Synod’s general-secretary, Daniel Gunya. «I believe there is a way out of the dilemma, but it calls for extra care.» An official in the public relations office of the Blantyre Synod expressed doubts if the demands of Malawian Muslims will be listened to. After all, he said, they are a small group compared with the Christians. The official said that for a long time Christian organisations have had a large influence on the national life of the country.
Edwards Hobbs Gama, Malawi, March 2000 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment
ENGLISH CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 2000 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement