Global Perspectives on Religious Tolerance Curriculum in Primary Schools: A Systematic Literature Review
Main Article Content
Abstract
Religious tolerance education in primary schools has become crucial in addressing the growing global religious diversity and concerns about intolerance from an early age. However, few systematic studies review cross-country approaches to curricula and educational practices. This study aims to analyse the role of family and school environments, explore curricula and learning strategies, and identify challenges and solutions in religious tolerance education at the primary level. A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA approach with databases Scopus, Web of Science, and Taylor & Francis. Article selection followed inclusion criteria from 2014–2024, English-language, and focused on primary education. Quality assessment used MMAT 2018, and thematic analysis was performed with NVivo 14. From 147 articles, 39 studies from 17 countries were synthesised. This is the first multi-continental synthesis. Four main themes were identified: family role, school role, synergy between both, and inhibiting factors. Schools play a dominant role, but family-school synergy and the use of technology remain underexplored. This research contributes that religious tolerance education requires holistic, integrative, and contextual approaches at the primary level in various countries. Further research is important in underrepresented regions such as Africa and Latin America.
Article Details
How to Cite
RAHMAN, Khalid et al.
Global Perspectives on Religious Tolerance Curriculum in Primary Schools: A Systematic Literature Review.
Proceeding of International Conference on Islamic Education (ICIED), [S.l.], v. 10, n. 1, p. 493-507, dec. 2025.
ISSN 2613-9804.
Available at: <https://conferences.uin-malang.ac.id/index.php/icied/article/view/3629>. Date accessed: 03 feb. 2026.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18860/icied.v10i1.3629.
Section
Articles
References
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Rahman, B. A. (2022). Islamic revival and cultural diversity: Pesantren’s configuration in contemporary Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 12 (1), 201–229. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v12i1.201-229
Raihani. (2014). Creating a culture of religious tolerance in an Indonesian school. South East Asia Research, 22 (4), 541–560. https://doi.org/10.5367/sear.2014.0234
Ratner, C. (2017). The discrepancy between macro culture and individual, lived psychology: An ethnographic example of Chinese moral behaviour. Culture and Psychology, 23 (3), 356–371. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067X16658021
Shaukat, S., & Pell, A. W. (2020). Religious Tolerance of Madrasa Students according to Their Religious Affiliation: An Empirical Investigation. International Journal of Islam in Asia, 1 (1), 67–90. https://doi.org/10.1163/25899996-01010005
Siddaway, A. P., Wood, A. M., & Hedges, L. V. (2019). How to do a systematic review: A best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. Annual Review of Psychology, 70
Suharso, R., Wasino, Setyowati, D. L., & Utomo, C. B. (2020). Teaching multiculturalism based on Islamic historical relics in Northern Java. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 11(10), 445–463.
Sulyman, A. O., Adeyanju, M. I., & Salihu, R. M. (2024). Influence of Faith-Based Schools on Pupils’ Religion Tolerance in Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 6 (1), 88–101. https://ijeh.org/article/view/451
Suparjo, S., Hanif, M., Dimas, I. S., Suwito, S., & Efendi, A. (2022). Inclusive religious education to develop religious tolerance among teenagers. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 17 (8
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Van Santen, J. C. M. (2016). International African Institute 'MY "VEIL" DOES NOT GO WITH MY JEANS': VEILING, FUNDAMENTALISM, EDUCATION AND WOMEN'S AGENCY IN NORTHERN CAMEROON Author(s): José C. M. van Santen Source: Africa: Journal of the International African Institut. 80
Wahyono, S. B., Budiningsih, A., Suyantiningsih, & Rahmadonna, S. (2022). MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE Elementary School Teachers’ Understanding of Multicultural Education in Yogyakarta. Al-Jami’ah, 60 (2), 467–508. https://doi.org/10.14421/AJIS.2022.602.467-508
Wahyono, S. B., Sunarto, & Sriyanto. (2022). Multicultural Education and Religious Tolerance: Elementary School Teachers’ Understanding in Yogyakarta. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 13 (4), 122–137. https://jsser.org/index.php/jsser/article/view/3539
Apelt, M., Koch, A., Michalowski, I., Molzberger, K., Schenk, L., & Schmidt, M. O. (2023). How organisations regulate Muslim body practices: a comparison of schools, hospitals, and swimming pools. Comparative Migration Studies, 11
Aryati, A., & Suradi, A. (2022). The Implementation of Religious Tolerance: Study on Pesantren Bali Bina Insani With Bali Hindu Communities. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 10 (2), 471–490. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v10i2.646
Elshof, T. (2019). The challenge of religious education to deal with past and present Catholicism. British Journal of Religious Education, 41 (3), 261–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2018.1484689
Farisi, M. I. (2014). Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [unity in diversity]: From dynastic policy to classroom practice. Journal of Social Science Education, 13 (1), 46–61. https://doi.org/10.2390/jsse-v14-i1-1261
Ferrara, C. (2012). Religious tolerance and understanding in the French education system. Religious Education, 107 (5), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.1080/00344087.2012.722481
Fitriani, M. I. (2023). Islamic Religious Education and Interreligious Tolerance in a Multi-Religious Country: Challenges, Typological Implications, and the Proposed Strategy. In Ulumuna (Vol. 27, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i1.765
Hanif, S., Ali, M. H., & Carlson, J. (2020). What predicts religious tolerance? Education or religiosity in Pakistan’s multi-religious society. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, 27 (3), 530–554. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718115-02702005
Hayes, B. C., McAllister, I., & Dowds, L. (2013). Integrated schooling and religious tolerance in Northern Ireland. Journal of Contemporary Religion, 28 (1), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2013.750837
Hertanto, Mulyaningsih, H., Suripto, & Sudarman. (2022). The relationship between different social factors and the intensity of student radicalism. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 13(2), 288–319.
Hong, Q. N., Pluye, P., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., & Vedel, I. (2018). Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), version 2018. User guide.
Johnson, L., & Pak, Y. (2018). Leadership for Democracy in Challenging Times: Historical Case Studies in the United States and Canada. Educational Administration Quarterly, 54 (3), 439–469. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X18761345
Lester, E. (2011). Teaching for religious tolerance in Modesto: Just enough, but not too much. Phi Delta Kappan, 93 (4), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172171109300409
Lin, Y.-C., Chien, Y.-H., & Lee, H.-Y. (2023). Religious diversity education: Raising children’s awareness through augmented reality in primary schools. Education and Information Technologies, 28 (1), 123–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11123-z
Mappiasse, S., & Hayadin. (2022). STUDENTS’ RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE Comparing Muslim Students at Public Schools and Pesantren. Journal of Indonesian Islam, 16 (2), 326–351. https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2022.16.2.326-351
Marini, A., Safitri, D., & Muda, I. (2018). Managing school based on character building in the context of religious school culture (Case in Indonesia). Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 9 (4), 274–294. https://doi.org/10.17499/jsser.11668
McCowan, T. (2017). Building bridges rather than walls: research into an experiential model of interfaith education in secondary schools. British Journal of Religious Education, 39 (3), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2015.1128387
Mikoski, G. S. (2013). Going places: Travel seminars as opportunities for interfaith education. Teaching Theology and Religion, 16 (4), 352–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/teth.12136
Nuha, U., Arifin, Z., Kuswandari, Y., & Razak, A. R. A. (2021). Religion Teachers’ Strategies to Internalise Tolerance Values at Catholic and Islamic Schools in Bajawa Nusa Tenggara Timur. Journal of Islamic Education, 18 (2), 295–306. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.2021.182-05
Okai, E., & Yebisi, F. A. (2021). Intolerance and early socialisation: The impact of religious bigotry on children. Journal of African Childhood Studies, 5 (2), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12345-021-00089
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372
Pew Research Centre. (2019). A Closer Look at How Religious Restrictions Have Risen Around the World. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/07/15/a-closer-look-at-how-religious-restrictions-have-risen-around-the-world/
Rahman, B. A. (2022). Islamic revival and cultural diversity: Pesantren’s configuration in contemporary Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 12 (1), 201–229. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v12i1.201-229
Raihani. (2014). Creating a culture of religious tolerance in an Indonesian school. South East Asia Research, 22 (4), 541–560. https://doi.org/10.5367/sear.2014.0234
Ratner, C. (2017). The discrepancy between macro culture and individual, lived psychology: An ethnographic example of Chinese moral behaviour. Culture and Psychology, 23 (3), 356–371. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067X16658021
Shaukat, S., & Pell, A. W. (2020). Religious Tolerance of Madrasa Students according to Their Religious Affiliation: An Empirical Investigation. International Journal of Islam in Asia, 1 (1), 67–90. https://doi.org/10.1163/25899996-01010005
Siddaway, A. P., Wood, A. M., & Hedges, L. V. (2019). How to do a systematic review: A best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. Annual Review of Psychology, 70
Suharso, R., Wasino, Setyowati, D. L., & Utomo, C. B. (2020). Teaching multiculturalism based on Islamic historical relics in Northern Java. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 11(10), 445–463.
Sulyman, A. O., Adeyanju, M. I., & Salihu, R. M. (2024). Influence of Faith-Based Schools on Pupils’ Religion Tolerance in Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 6 (1), 88–101. https://ijeh.org/article/view/451
Suparjo, S., Hanif, M., Dimas, I. S., Suwito, S., & Efendi, A. (2022). Inclusive religious education to develop religious tolerance among teenagers. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 17 (8
UNESCO. (2022). Addressing Religious Intolerance in Education. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381102
Van Santen, J. C. M. (2016). International African Institute 'MY "VEIL" DOES NOT GO WITH MY JEANS': VEILING, FUNDAMENTALISM, EDUCATION AND WOMEN'S AGENCY IN NORTHERN CAMEROON Author(s): José C. M. van Santen Source: Africa: Journal of the International African Institut. 80
Wahyono, S. B., Budiningsih, A., Suyantiningsih, & Rahmadonna, S. (2022). MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE Elementary School Teachers’ Understanding of Multicultural Education in Yogyakarta. Al-Jami’ah, 60 (2), 467–508. https://doi.org/10.14421/AJIS.2022.602.467-508
Wahyono, S. B., Sunarto, & Sriyanto. (2022). Multicultural Education and Religious Tolerance: Elementary School Teachers’ Understanding in Yogyakarta. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 13 (4), 122–137. https://jsser.org/index.php/jsser/article/view/3539