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State Funded Muslim Schools - Iftikhar - 03-08-2009
The demand for Muslim schools comes from parents who want their children a safe environment with an Islamic ethos.Parents see Muslim schools where children can develop their Islamic Identity where they won't feel stigmatised for being Muslims and they can feel confident about their faith.
Muslim schools are working to try to create a bridge between communities.
There is a belief among ethnic minority parens that the British schooling
does not adequatly address their cultural needs. Failing to meet this need could result in feeling resentment among a group who already feel excluded. Setting up Muslim school is a defensive response.
State schools with monolingual teachers are not capable to teach English to bilingual Muslim children. Bilingual teachers are needed to teach English to such children along with their mother tongue. According to a number of studies, a child will not learn a second language if his first language is ignored.
Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual
Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Muslims
have the right to educate their children in an environment that suits their
culture. This notion of "integration", actually means "assimilation", by
which people generally really mean "be more like me". That is not
multiculturalism. In Sydney, Muslims were refused to build a Muslim school,
because of a protest by the residents. Yet a year later, permission was
given for the building of a Catholic school and no protests from the
residents. This clrearly shows the blatant hypocrisy, double standards and racism. Christians oppose Muslim schools in western countries yet build their own religious schools.
British schooling and the British society is the home of institutional
racism. The result is that Muslim children are unable to develop
self-confidence and self-esteem, therefore, majority of them leave schools with low grades. Racism is deeply rooted in British society. Every native child is born with a gene or virus of racism, therefore, no law could change the attitudes of racism towards those who are different. It is not only the common man, even member of the royal family is involved in racism. The father of a Pakistani office cadet who was called a "Paki" by Prince Harry
has profoundly condemned his actions. He had felt proud when he met the
Queen and the Prince of Wales at his son's passing out parade at Sandhurst
in 2006 but now felt upset after learning about the Prince's comments. Queen Victoria invited an Imam from India to teach her Urdu language. He was highly respected by the Queen but other members of the royal family had no respect for him. He was forced to go back to India. His protrait is still in
one of the royal places.
There are hundreds of state schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools with bilingual Muslim teachers. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.
Iftikhar Ahmad
www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
State Funded Muslim Schools - naseeha - 03-09-2009
Hmm Interesting,
Your post deals greatly with the social side of things. Do you see the need to have some reform of the curricula also.
I know that at least one saudi Sheikh (his name escapes me at the moment, but I think it is Sheikh Jibaly) who called suggested reform of the islamic curricula, and gave examples as well.
Obviously, schools that are state owned and are not "islamic" are fine.. but as for the Islamic schools;
do we need some sort of curricula that would integrate both islamic and secular knowledge and prepare it's students for the real world out there????
or is our current process working fine..
And by "Our" I mean the muslims today in general, I am not pinpointing any one school..
What are your thoughts??
State Funded Muslim Schools - Iftikhar - 03-09-2009
Salaam
The demand for Muslim schools is not just a question of equality, but spring from a belief among many minority parents that the education system does not adequately address their cultural needs. Failing to meet the need could result in fuelling resentment among a group who already feel excluded - concern over food and dress and the treatment of Empire in the curriculum are compounded by the relatively low achievement of children of Pakistan and Bangladeshi orgin. Setting up Muslim schools is a defensive response.
We are living in a plethora of challenges ranging from gang and gun crime to drug and alcohal, relationships and teenage pregnancies to questions of being apparently under pressure of being drawn into violent extremism. These challanges lay a great burden upon Muslim community. Muslim community is duty bound to help and guide future generation.
State Funded Muslim Schools - naseeha - 03-10-2009
Quote:Salaam
The demand for Muslim schools is not just a question of equality, but spring from a belief among many minority parents that the education system does not adequately address their cultural needs.
Now this puts a new twist on things.. because, here in the caribbean "Culture" is not a problem, but the religious aspect is.
I guess the issue is deeper than simply educational reform but reform of the system itself.
But to further add to your topic. You mentioned it being a "Defensive" response. Is there anything proactive that can be done in order to address the education system specifically (i.e. with regards, both to the state run and state assisted islamic schools)