Fostering National Harmony through Inter-Religious Education: An Analysis of Pendidikan Moral KSSM and Pendidikan Islam KSSM Syllabi

Abstract

This article explores the role of inter-religious education in fostering national harmony in Malaysia, with a specific focus on the content of Pendidikan Moral (Moral Education) and Pendidikan Islam (Islamic Education) syllabi under the Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Menengah (Secondary School Standard Curriculum). The goal of this study is to examine the inter-religious education elements present in both syllabi and assess their effectiveness in promoting understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among students of diverse religious backgrounds. This research is particularly important because it offers a critical lens for evaluating the current educational frameworks in shaping a unified, multi-religious society. The focus of the discussion is on: (a) defining the concept and urgency of inter-religious education in the Malaysian context; (b) introducing Hikmah Pedagogy as a suitable framework for Malaysia; and (c) analysing the content of both syllabi for the presence and depth of inter-religious education elements. The methods employed in this paper include textual analysis of curriculum documents, evaluation of textbook content, and comparison with existing scholarly research. This research concludes with the finding that, while inter-religious education elements are present, especially in the Pendidikan Moral KSSM syllabus at the lower secondary level, they are insufficiently integrated into the Pendidikan Islam KSSM syllabus.