Education for All: where does religion come in?

Abstract

What roles do religions play in meeting global education challenges? This article explores five potential avenues for action: advocacy, service delivery, pluralism‐focused curricula to further religious literacy, theological training for social justice, and addressing values challenges in education. Despite growing contemporary advocacy by religious institutions – individual as well as interfaith – for global education objectives, the effort is suboptimal. Faith institutions play important but complex and often under‐appreciated roles in overall global education. Poor data and controversy about public and private roles in education can contribute to religion’s exclusion from many influential debates. Outstanding institutions that strive to increase access to education and exemplify quality can better serve as models of excellence. Faith leaders and institutions offer particular advantages in meeting the pivotal challenges of education for marginalised groups and conflict‐ridden societies. Education about religion is a thorny contemporary challenge, yet religious ‘illiteracy’ can be an obstacle to social harmony and enrichment. Religion is very much at issue as explicit and shared values are increasingly seen as critical to democratic societies and to reinforcing social cohesion.