London School of Islamics
An Educational Trust
63 Margery Park Road, London E7 9LD
Tel/Fax: 0208-555-2733
Email: londonschoolofislamics@pakwatan.com
Muslim Community Schools
According to Runnymede Trust, education is the home of institutionalized racism. Recent newspaper reports clearly indicate that Black as well as Asian pupils are victims of discrimination in state schools. The minority children, especially the Muslims are exposed to the pressure of racism, multiculturalism and bullying. They suffer academically, culturally and linguistically.
The Muslim community started to set up Muslim schools in the early 80s.
London School of Islamics was the first Muslim school set up in January
1981, and now there are 65 schools educating approximately 5,000 Muslim
pupils, while majority of them have no choice but to attend state
schools. Only 3 schools have achieved Grant Maintained status. The needs
and demands of the Muslim children can be met only through Muslim
schools. His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, while visiting the first GM
Muslim School in North London, said that the pupils would be the future
ambassadors of Islam, but what about thousands of others, who attend
state schools, classified as ‘Sink Schools’.
OFSTED blames the state school for the failure of the Muslim children.
Its report clearly indicates that the religious schools are on the top
for good examination results and discipline. There is a growing demand
for such schools and the Church of England is going to double its
schools in the next ten years. The Think Tanks of the Labor and the Tory
parties recommended for the abolition of the LEAs and all the state
schools will be handed over to the private companies, charities,
religious groups and educational Trusts. The time has come for the
Muslim Community to manage those state schools where the Muslim pupils
are in majority. Such schools may be handed over to the Islamic
Charities and Trusts for their management and day to day running. The
DFEE will be responsible for funding, inspection and maintenance. The
management will be in the hands of educated professional Muslims. The
teaching of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Urdu by qualified Muslim
teachers will help the pupils to develop an Islamic identity, which is
crucial for mental, emotional and personality developments.
Sir Trevor McDonald is a champion of introducing foreign modern
languages even at primary level. The Muslim community would like to see
Arabic and Urdu to be introduced at nursery, primary and secondary
schools along with European languages. In this way, the Muslim pupils
will have a choice to learn a foreign language according to their own
choice. However, there are people like Mr. Graham Lane, chairman of the
Newham’s LEA, who is against religious schools and especially Muslim
schools. Now the time has come for him and others to change their
attitudes towards those who would like to send their children to Muslim
schools. There should be a choice in education and for the time being it
is denied to the Muslim community. In the late 80s and early 90s, when I
floated the idea of Muslim community schools, I was declared as a
‘SCHOOL HIJAKER’ by the editor of the Newham Recorder in his editorial
column. This clearly shows that the British media does not believe in
choice and diversity in the field of education and no respect for those
who are different. According to the Muslim News dated 23rd December
2000, that the Muslim schools inspite of meager resources have excelled
to a further extent this year, with two schools achieving 100% A-C
grades for five or more GCSE’s. They beat well-resource state and
independent schools in Birmingham and Hackney. Muslim schools are doing
better because majority of the teachers are Muslim. The pupils are not
exposed to the pressures of racism, multiculturalism and bullying.
Haji Iftikhar. Ahmad
A Justice Site
jeannecurran@habermas.org