Highlighted Session: Religion, Education and Social (In)Justice

Group Submission Type: Highlighted Paper Session

Description of Session

In this highlighted session, the panel critically examines international research from Bangladesh, Israel and Africa to explicate how religion, schools and indeed society, give attention (or not) to social justice, realising that any progressive society must deal seriously with unfairness, injustice, including failure to promote diversity, rights and equal opportunities for all. The panel posits the need to mitigate against injustice through fair and inclusive practices. However, despite this, it highlights the troubling manifestation of social decay as exemplified by corruption, ethnic divisions and religious schools’ competition for children of elites in ways that excludes families without social capital and influence. The following objectives provide an important guide for the highlighted session:
• To analyse international research drawn from different socio-cultural and geographical contexts so as to garner interest and debate among the countries and regions represented in the research shared on how religion, schools and society engages (or not) with social justice.
• To share research findings on issues that do not promote social justice such as corruption by religious leaders, unfair competition for school space and ethnic/religious divisions, and importantly, hard lessons learnt from these insights.
• To assess the implications of the research findings and debates that arise on school policy and practice. Also on how the public responds and practical actions taken, if at all, to deal with corruption as seen through the lens of religious (i.e. Christian) leaders.

To summarise, the first paper in the highlighted session critically examines how inclusive education as a form of social justice is manifested at a faith-based college in Bangladesh. The second addresses the endemic problem of corruption in society but with an important twist focusing on how African Christian leaders experience and perceive corruption. The last two papers are form Israel. The first, explores the issues of religious and ethnic divisions and the extent to which this is reflected in schools. The second paper examines the issue of religious schools’ competition to attracting children from elite families and the role of parental choice and social capital in that dynamic.

Sub Unit

• Religion and Education SIG

Chair

• Bruce Collet, Bowling Green State University

Individual Presentations

• Corruption as seen through the eyes of African Christian leaders - Robert H Osburn, Wilberforce International Institute

• Israel's Religious and Ethnic Divisions and their Reflection in Its Schools - Laurence Wolff, sel-employed

• Rethinking Religious Education in a Postcolonial Space - Renee L Bowling, The Ohio State University

• Young People’s Dis/engagement with Religion in Contemporary Society: Implications for Religious Education in Botswana - Yonah Hisbon Matemba, University of the West of Scotland

• Majid Irsan Al-Kaylani (1937-2015): A unique philosophical vision of Islam and education - Rania Sawalhi, Eduenterprise

Discussant

• Yonah Hisbon Matemba, University of the West of Scotland