THE chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques has welcomed the introduction of the history of Islam to the curriculum.

Salim Mulla said it was ‘great’ that Education Secretary Michael Gove’s new curriculum included the optional module.

Mr Gove announced his revised national curriculum earlier this week after an early draft in February came under fire.

It included, among other things, giving history teachers more flexibility and features the optional study of ancient China and early Islam.

Mr Mulla said: “We need to get a better understanding of all faiths. Now, Muslims are the second biggest minority in this country, so we welcome this change.

“There is already a good understanding of Christianity taught in schools.Muslims believe in Jesus Christ. They have to in order to be a Muslim.

“But I don’t think a lot of Christians really understand what the Muslim faith is about.”

A spokesman for the Blackburn Diocese Board of Education (DBE) said: “The Blackburn DBE endorses a National Curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of later life, particularly, in a fast changing globalised world.

“As is well known, the early Islamic civilisations gave much to the world – and we would certainly support the teaching of such an important part of world history.”

The new curriculum will be introduced in 2014, but not at free schools and academies, which set their own curriculums.