Islamic teaching to be scrutinised

Minister alarmed by 'wrong-headed influences' on students launches review, reports Claire Sanders

The Government has launched a major review of the teaching of Islam in colleges and universities in an effort to stamp out extremism on campuses.

Bill Rammell, the Higher Education Minister, who has just completed a ten-month tour of the sector, has asked Ataullah Siddiqui, director of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, to conduct the review.

"Perhaps the most surprising thing I have come to conclude in recent months is that the quality of teaching of Islam that takes place in our universities needs to be improved," Mr Rammell said at this week's launch of the review at South Bank University.

He said some students were subjected to "wrong-headed influences... in particular, exposed to teachings that either explicitly condone terrorism or foster a climate of opinion that is at least sympathetic to terrorists' motivation."

Mr Rammell said he was alarmed by some of the views expressed by Muslim students. "I was really shocked to find a significant group of students in one institution who had bought the idea that 9/11 was planned and executed by the White House."

Dr Siddiqui said this week that the review would examine what is taught on established courses as well as what is presented in campus Islamic societies. "Although I am yet to receive my brief, I will be looking at gaps in current provision, and whether there could be a wider range of courses on offer," he said. "I will also be looking at the quality of religious teaching available from chaplaincies and Islamic societies."

Mr Rammell wants to ensure that courses are not restricted to a narrow set of beliefs, that the nature of spiritual advice to students is improved and that more material is available to help explain Islam in the context of a multi-faith society.

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of Luton University and chair of the working party that produced a guide on fostering good campus relations for Universities UK, said: "We have been very impressed that Bill Rammell has taken the time to visit universities and to talk to students. At Luton, students were clear that Muslims are, if anything, more alarmed about extremism than the Government has been in the past."

He said he felt that extremism was easier to detect on campuses because of the open nature of universities. "I do think young Muslims are more exposed to extremism in mosques than campuses."

Amir Latif, media spokesman for the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said: "If this review is to look at what religious leaders say in Islamic societies on campuses then we would be concerned - that is a matter for Muslims themselves."

Dr Siddiqui stressed that the review would offer guidance to universities and encompass a wide range of Muslim opinion.

The review will run alongside a study looking at whether British cultural and social history should become a compulsory part of schooling for 11 to 16-year-olds.

claire.sanders@thes.co.uk