This is what outgoing Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs) writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.
‘An insurmountable difference’
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), the IPABO and the Contact Body for Muslims and Government (CMO) had been working together to develop a Dutch imam training course since September last year, but ‘an insurmountable difference appeared between the parties’. of insight’.
“The ideas about the educational content and the legal feasibility of the intended structure turned out to be too far apart.” The letter does not elaborate further on what exactly the differences of opinion are.
“SZW, in collaboration with OCW, will continue to work to establish a funded and recognized imam training course in the Netherlands,” Van Gennip writes.
Current imam training is insufficient
It is not the first time that an attempt has been made to set up an imam training course recognized by the Dutch government. The current imam training courses do not sufficiently meet the needs and living environment of Dutch Muslims.
InHolland University of Applied Sciences opened an imam training course in 2006, but it stopped due to a lack of money in 2013.
