Culturally responsive pedagogy and Muslim learners

This course is designed to support educators working with Muslim learners to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to culturally responsive pedagogy, curriculum inclusive of Muslim learner experiences, as well as support equity and access issues in relation to religion and culture, and consider learning resources that reflect contemporary issues relevant to Muslim learners.

Muslim learners in Australia are subject to scrutiny and judgement on account of broader social ‘othering’. They also face complex challenges in relation to bullying, bigotry, identity, belonging, self-worth, and exclusion, particularly in the current climate of negative political and media discourse surrounding Islam and Muslim peoples. Muslim learners present as marginalised culturally and religiously diverse learners having to negotiate within schools and educational settings that pay little attention to their knowledge, perspectives, experiences or voices – all efforts that impede their engagement and education.

Culturally responsive pedagogy is essential to promote the national education priorities of equity and excellence for all learners. An additional challenge to meeting this goal, is that Muslim learners are diverse in their cultural, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, levels of religiosity, theological positions, and attachment to Islam as a primary identity marker.