Yemen Times reprints an article appearing on the German website Qantara that takes a look at Saudi educational reform. The piece generally finds improvements—texts no longer cite the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ for instance—but also notes that there remain ambiguities and some intolerance. If what is described is the full extent of that intolerance, I can tolerate it. It’s not much different from the view of any religious education in reference to other religions, so far as I can tell.

That’s just a fact of life, I think. I certainly remember a certain amount of disdain toward various Protestant groups in my education in Catholic schools, particularly at the elementary level. By the time of high school and university courses, there was far more nuance and recognition of the values of other religions. But in elementary school? Well, everyone else was going straight to Hell, unless they had good intentions in their hearts.

The article is worth reading.

[Thanks to Jane at Armies of Liberation for the pointer!]

Hell Fire in Primary School
Educational Policy in Saudi Arabia
Joseph Croitoru

Saudi Arabia is hoping to modernise its image with new school textbooks. The new books were published recently and made available in the internet. Joseph Croitoru has read them, and reports that they leave an ambiguous impression

Following the attacks of 11th September, in which the majority of those involved were Saudi nationals, international attention focussed on the Saudi education system. Studies by Western experts showed that, not only did education in the Kingdom concentrate very strongly on religion, it was also extremely tendentious. In 2006 an American study demonstrated that Saudi children were taught to be missionaries of Islam.

The religion was to be spread, if necessary, by Holy War. In addition, children were told that they had to continue to defend themselves against the Crusades – which were still continuing. Violence against Jews was glorified, and the anti-semitic forgery “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” was taught as fact.
…

UPDATE: I’m informed by e-mail from someone at the Gulf Institute that the ‘Protocols’ still find their way into some textbooks. According to the correspondent, Page 104 of the 10th Grade book on Hadith refers to them. I’m being sent an example and will post a link to it.