Catholic schools as a peace founder: a way to interreligious harmony!

Catholic schools as a peace founder: a way to interreligious harmony!

In a time of increasing social tensions, Catholic private schools in Austria have a significant role in peace education. The educational expert Marie-Theres Igrec commented at a conference in Vienna as part of the "Interfaith Harmony Week", which takes place from February 1 to 7. Igrec emphasized that these schools not only teach children in a pluralistic society, but also have to create spaces for interreligious exchange and understanding. In Austria, 292 Catholic private schools and around 600 kindergartens form around 7 percent of the school system, with 75 percent of the students being Catholic, while the rest consists of children with other religious backgrounds, such as kathpress.at informed.

interreligious communication in everyday school life

iGREC advocated the importance of religious teaching in the promotion of interreligious communication, since the Austrian law entitles you to carry out any recognized religious community for the implementation of religious lessons. For example, Muslim children receive Islamic religious instruction in Catholic private schools. The schools attach great importance to respecting the multi -religiousness of their students and creating integration spaces that also take into account festive occasions of other faiths. However, this not only requires spaces for religious education, but also a committed interreligious learning, which requires good training of the teachers, such as Privachulen.at Notes.

The idea behind the training at Catholic schools is based on a theological basis that takes into account both current and future social challenges. This goal is to be implemented through practical approaches in school culture, which requires constant reflection and adaptation of the vision. This vision is not only a guide, but also a source of inspiration that teaches teachers and students together with challenges and changes.