Exploring Muslim parents' perceptions and expectations of early childhood education : a case study

Abstract

This dissertation probes the Muslim parents' perceptions and expectations of early childhood education in Malta. With Muslims being a minority in Maltese society, Islamic views in the area of early childhood education are often overlooked. The National Curriculum Framework (2012) states that, our educational system should support “the expectations of children and their parents”, and yet Catholic Religious Education is the only option available in State schools as to date. This thesis explores the views of the Muslim parents through interviews with twelve individuals who profess the Islamic faith and whose children attend the Kindergarten of Mariam Al Batool School – Malta's only Muslim school. Although this is a small scale qualitative study, of which findings, cannot be generalized, most of the parents interviewed are concerned that their children become inured to western beliefs in the State schools and consequently lose their religious identity as they progress in their educational development. With the ever increasing migration phenomenon in Europe, Islamic perceptions vary regarding educational expectations. These depend on the Muslim parents' socio-economical and educational background. However all Muslim parents agree upon one common denominator – the appropriate exposure to the Islamic faith in a western educational environment, which they feel, currently offers no provision for children to practice their Muslim religious beliefs in mainstream schools.