THE HAGUE, 08/10/03 - Islamic schools promote integration, the Education Inspectorate concludes in a report published yesterday. The quality of education at Muslim schools is sometimes even better than at 'normal' schools with exclusively Islamic pupils.

The Netherlands has 35 Islamic primary schools and two secondary ones. These are on no point whatsoever in conflict with the principles of democracy, the inspectorate reported yesterday. It investigated 20 schools between April and July 2003, paying particular attention to religious lessons, education in Turkish or Arabic and global orientation.

The inspectorate determined that the content of religious education at all Islamic schools did not conflict with the basic values of Dutch society. The teachers are however of mediocre quality. "One of the possible reasons is that many of them have not had teacher training. This is not required for these lessons. "

Another reason for the poor quality of religious teaching is that the teaching material "Adds little to what pupils already know. " The inspectorate did not say whether the Holocaust is covered at all schools. According to conservative (VVD) MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali, this subject is no longer taught at many schools - including ordinary schools - due to the tensions this causes in the class.

The inspectorate does "with emphasis" refer to "the administrative vulnerability of Islamic education. " By this it means "Mixing of administrative and school tasks, double roles within their own community, the doubts about the openness of the school and on schools' will to engage in dialogue with the society. " But the inspectorate has "no doubts about the efforts of the schools towards integration. "