“Muslim Mind Collaborative” produces resources to improve Islam faith literacy in England

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNAA) – A toolkit to help teachers respond to Muslim students has been produced by the Muslim Mind Collaborative, an organisation set up to promote sound mental health among Muslim communities in the UK.

Its aim is to improve faith literacy and cultural sensitivity in schools, acknowledging faith as a “category of difference”, and tackling Islamophobia, stereotypes and unconscious bias.

The Collaborative says British Muslims have the youngest age profile of any faith group representing one in 12 pupils, among whom there is a strong tradition of the importance of passing on the faith.

The resources include a proposed Inset day presentation on Islam, British Muslim culture and the role faith plays in schooling, and a lesson plan on respecting religious diversity for healthy relationships.

Sabah Gilani, chief executive of the Better Community Business Network which backs the scheme, told Schools Week : “Understanding how faith acts as a lever, motivator and source of inspiration to these children and young people can only positively contribute to schools’ aims of improving life chances The ‘Muslim Problem’ is in fact a Muslim opportunity”.