INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING: A POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE OF ARISING SINGLE FAITH SCHOOLS IN ILORIN METROPOLIS, KWARA STATE

Abstract

The rise of single faith schools in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria, may have unintended consequences in a very diverse country like Nigeria where religion matters remain very sensitive and can greatly impact interfaith understanding. This study examined the impact of single faith schools on pupils’ interfaith understandings. The research investigates whether exposure to a single-faith school environment fosters interfaith understanding or reinforces religious boundaries. Descriptive, survey research design was used. 174 pupils were selected for this study from privately owned single faith and conventional schools using stratified sampling technique. Rating scale was used as the research instrument. One research question and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that pupils from single faith schools have a low level of interfaith religion understanding. Also, there was no significant difference in interfaith religion understanding of pupils’ based on gender. The researcher therefore recommends that the unintended consequences of the rising numbers of single faith schools in the metropolis should be evaluated as Nigeria remains a country which is largely still sensitive to religious issues. Also, single faiths should make deliberate effort to teach and promote interfaith dialogue in their schools and the country needs all her citizens to understand and be tolerant to other religions.