The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is stirring up controversy again over Christian and Catholic schools not teaching Islam. Last year, the same thing happened in Central and East Java, until parents defended the schools, saying the quality of education their children were getting was more important. The local association of private schools (BMPS) agrees, and is demanding that a solution be found immediately. The reality, though, is that Christian and Catholic schools are not required to teach their students Islam because they are private schools. Instead, most students take Islamic courses at their mosque. In addition, school administrators often go out of their way to reassure parents that they are not trying to convert the children.
Pray that parents will again come forward in support of the schools, and they will not be forced to teach Islam.
Read the full story here.
Leave a Reply