The professional response of imams and religious studies teachers to Novi Muallim

Abstract

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The subject of this research is the professional reception of the journal Novi Muallim by imams and religious studies teachers. The aim was to establish an empirical insight into the professional reception of Novi Muallim by imams and religious studies teachers, based on qualitative research of the opinions of the experts and quantitative research of the opinions of imams and muallims. The mixed method was used in this research. The research instruments used are the Semi-structured Expert Interview, the Questionnaire on the Professional Reception of Novi Muallim for Imams, and the Questionnaire on the Professional Reception of Novi Muallim for Religious Studies Teachers. The research sample was comprised of 5 experts, 114 imams, and 120 religious studies teachers.   Results of the quantitative research showed that religious studies teachers evaluated the quality with significantly higher numbers in regards to their quality expectations, as compared with the evaluation of quality expectations by the imams: it meets the expectations regarding the spiritual guidance sphere, education, inspiration, criticism and the analysis, communal unity and the promotion of values. Results show that imams are of the opinion that Novi Muallim offers them significant support in fields of resources, information, quality content, theology education, interpretation of religious texts, contemporary topics, dialogue and understanding, but also that there are certain limitations. The religious studies teachers also believe that Novi Muallim offers significant support in terms of education, spiritual support, information about current events, promotion of values, methodology of teaching, better insight into Islamic studies, and space for discussions and dialogue, however, they also think that it has some limitations. The qualitative analysis showed that the Journal is to some extent present in the fields of a deeper, existential meaning of the religious practice, in the field of sensitivity to interpret particular as well as wider contexts, but it also showed that there is scope for improving these potentials of the Journal.  Further, it stressed the need for texts that can contribute to the personal understanding of theology and the need for more significant co-construction of the Journal.