Religious Education in Higher Learning Institutions: A Model Approach to Value Based Educational System

Religious Education in Higher Learning Institutions: A Model Approach to Value Based Educational System

Dr. Abdelaziz Berghout *

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the importance of religious education and its role in integrating valuesÉ and ethics into the body of knowledge. It emphasises the fact that religion is a core element in the process of knowledge creation and dissemination. As such, religious education plays a crucial role in providing a dynamic religious epistemology which in turn guides the process of education. Obviously, values and ethics constitute an integral part of the general framework and theories of education that are value based. In designing the philosophy and objectives of knowledge and education, the question of values and ethics appear crucial in the education of the learner in almost all disciplines and spheres of knowledge. The present paper aspires towards clearing the confusion regarding the importance of value based education. İt provides an example of value based higher education system which integrates values in all disciplines and proved the value added of religious education to the leaners. This is true, especially when the scientific worldview and positivistic philosophy of knowledge and education still prevail in the arena of knowledge production, dissemination, transfer and application. Hence, this paper shows the role of the Islamic religious education framework in providing a balanced alternative whereby revelation and reason and soul and matter work together to create equilibrium in human life and civilisation. As such, the articulation of values, ethics, worldview, belief system and affective aspects of learning is analysed. The paper concludes that the role of religious education from an Islamic perspective is not only important but provides an integrated guiding model approach to the development of the cognitive, psychomotor and behavioral dimensions of the learner leading to more coherent religious epistemology and educational system that is relevant to the contemporary times and aspirations.