Developing an Understanding of Teaching Philosophy of Islamic Education at School Level in Pakistan and Austria: A Comparative Study

Abstract

A comparative content analysis of textbooks of Islamic education at school level in Austrian society and in a society with strong position of Islam is the major objective of the study. Thematic analysis with deductive way of coding is used to analyze the content of text books of  Islamic education to be taught in the public sector schools and for the data collected through interviews from administrative body, curriculum developers, head teachers and teachers teaching Islamic education and Muslim community in Austria and Pakistan. Objectives of the study are to determine the philosophy of teaching Islamic education from 1st to 5th class in public sector schools in Austria and Pakistan. Population of the study is comprised of administrative body of Islamic Religious Authority of Austria (Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich), teachers of Islamic education working with schools of Islamic Religious Authority of Austria (Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich), Muslim community living in Vienna as well as textbooks of Islamic education to be taught at elementary school level in Vienna. While, administrative body of School Education Department, Punjab and head teachers and teachers teaching Islamic studies at public sector school level in Punjab Province of Pakistan was focus of the study. In the study, convenient sampling is used for administrative body of Islamic Religious Authority of Austria (Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich), teachers of Islamic studies teaching in schools of Islamic Religious Authority of Austria (Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich), administrative body of School Education Department, Punjab Province, and curriculum developers of Curriculum Wing, Islamabad, head teachers and teachers in schools of Punjab Province of Pakistan. All the text books of Islamic education from 1st to 5th class have been selected to achieve the objectives of the study. The interview data has been collected through personal visits, using SKYPE and email. The study is significant for the school education department, education ministries, NGOs working for school, curriculum developers, and policy makers as well as for teachers and parents of Austrian and Pakistani society. School education department can reform the textbooks of Islamic education at secondary school level in both countries.