O tema central desta dissertação é o ensino superior na IECLB. Inicialmente, localizam-se o surgimento do ensino superior comunitário no Brasil e sua estruturação ao lado da oferta do poder público. Apresenta-se a formação do sistema de educação comunitária vinculada à Igreja, com escolas primárias, a partir das dificuldades enfrentadas pelos imigrantes alemães evangélico-luteranos, na sua chegada ao Brasil, com a ausência de escolas. Contextualizado o espaço do surgimento da educação superior comunitária e a tradição do ensino básico de caráter comunitário, abre-se o cenário para resgatar as discussões em torno da criação de faculdades e cursos superiores no âmbito do Sínodo Riograndense, um dos formadores da IECLB. Destaca-se a tentativa infrutífera de oferecer cursos naquele período em que as demais instituições brasileiras que atuam com ensino superior iniciam sua atividade. Este trabalho tenta compreender as causas dessa dificuldade e analisa as alternativas adotadas. Por último, volta-se a atenção para as trajetórias exitosas de surgimento de cursos a partir da década de 1970, mas com resultado especialmente na virada para o século XXI. A pesquisa revelou que a opção por não oferecer ensino superior decorre de todo um contexto de igreja que passava por reorganização. Também certa indefinição interna quanto a quem caberia a responsabilidade de oferecer cursos retarda a oferta desses. O trabalho culmina com o apontamento de alternativas para que o ensino superior na IECLB possa ter maior participação no cenário educacional brasileiro. A pesquisa aponta para uma revisão na sistemática de manter faculdades e cursos em instituições comunitárias da IECLB, para o caso de estas quererem se consolidar no cenário brasileiro. / The subject matter of this dissertation is higher education within IECLB (the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil). The paper starts out by examining the origin of congregational education in Brazil and its structural organization alongside public education. The formation of the congregational education system is presented, which started with primary schools linked to local church congregations that were set up in response to the difficulties with the lack of schools found by German Lutheran immigrants upon their arrival to Brazil. After setting the context for the emergence of congregational higher education and the tradition of congregational basic education, the paper analyzes the discussions around the creation of colleges and higher education courses within the Synod Riograndense, one of the founding constituents of IECLB. Special emphasis is given to the unsuccessful attempt to offer courses at the time when many other Brazilian institutions working with higher education started their activity. This paper attempts to understand the reasons underlying these difficulties and examines the alternatives adopted. Finally, attention is given to the successful emergence of courses in the 1970s, but which took effect especially at the turn of the 21st century. Our studies reveal that the option not to offer higher education stemmed from a larger context of the church that was then undergoing reorganization. Some internal uncertainty about who would bear the responsibility for offering courses further delayed the process. The paper concludes by indicating alternatives for higher education in IECLB to play a greater role in the context of Brazilian education. The research points out the need for a systematic review of the way colleges and courses are maintained by institutions within IECLB should they want to consolidate their position in Brazil.

This study deals with religious independent schools and its impact on society. The purpose of this essay has been to examine what various teachers from both religious independent schools and public schools have for perception of religious independent schools. The questions highlighted in the study is the teachers´ general view to religious independent schools, teachers´ perception of the Education Act " a denominational education, but a non- denominational teaching", and what teachers believe to be segregated or inclusive. The study has consisted of five qualitative interviews with different teachers, where three of them work at religious independent schools, while the other two teachers work in public schools. The study shows that there are prominent differences of approach to religious independent schools. Teachers who work at religious independent schools avert criticism of religious independent schools and argue that teaching in religious independent schools do not differ appreciably from the public schools. Instead can religious independent schools serve as a good alternative to the public school. While teachers from public schools sharply criticizes the religious independent schools and argue that these are not for everyone, but only for a specific group which can result segregation of society.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka vilka didaktiska verktyg och arbetssätt lärare använder samt vilka didaktiska utmaningar de upplever och hur dessa kan bemötas för att främja likvärdig religionsundervisning i årskurs 4–6 utifrån ett lärarperspektiv.  För att besvara studiens två frågeställningar har kvalitativa intervjuer med fem legitimerade lärare i religionskunskap genomförts. Studien utgår från en grundad teori samt teorin om interkulturalism med inriktning på det teorispecifika begreppet symbolisk interaktionism. Resultatet av studien visar att lärare förespråkar ett varierat arbetssätt med olika didaktiska verktyg, en integration av olika ämnen för att utöka elevernas förståelse för religionens betydelse samt ett kooperativt lärande för elevernas kognitiva förmåga. De utmaningarna som studiens resultat visade var elevernas skiftande förkunskaper, hanteringen av samhällsförändringar i undervisningens samt likvärdighetsuppdraget i relation till läroplanen.