Memorandum submitted by the London School
of Islamics
There are over half a million Muslim children
in British schools where bilingualism and Islamic Identity is
totally neglected. In History lessons, a Muslim contribution to
European learning and culture is never mentioned.
British education system has failed to meet
the needs and demands of the Muslim parents. Mr Bell wrongly expressed
concern about the number of Muslim schools failing to prepare
their pupils as good citizens. Ofsted never criticized state schools
for the mis-education and de-education of the Muslim children.
According to the educational theory, there should be a positive
co-relation between school and home; otherwise the education of
the children would suffer. Learning a second language is the "alphabet
of the 21st century." People who lose their language lose
their identity. The language a person speaks is part of his/her
identity and culture. So learning languages means opposing racism,
xenophobia and intolerance. The European Monitoring Centre on
Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) Annual Report 2003-04 provides that
education system in most European States and United Kingdom is
to fail migrants and minorities.
Muslim schools can play a vibrant part in British
society. Parents have no choice in educating their children. There
is a choice in health; the government is prepared to pay private
providers to treat NHS parents. Why not do the same in education?
Muslims feel that British society at large is hostile to their
way of life. In this atmosphere, there is a growing demand for
Muslim schools. Feversham state funded Muslim school now leads
in academic progress in only four years. It is a faith based school,
underpinned by an Islamic ethos, which influences the quality
of teaching and learning. Role models are important to motivate
pupils to pursue their dreams. Such schools aid integration. Better
exam results mean better jobs and a more integrated society. Majority
of Muslim parents balk at the secular treatment of matters such
as materialism, spirituality, sex, drugs and the treatment of
other people and the environment. What would be wrong with having
a state school with a Muslim ethos in areas where Muslim is in
great majority. One can't leave religious identity at the school
gate. Lord Bertand Russell regards Western education as being
intellectually harmful and makes a man stupid. Islamophobia is
the consequence of the ignorance, the misinformation and the fears
which result from it.
A teacher is a role model. Bilingual Muslim
children need bilingual Muslim teachers. Ofsted is not suitable
to inspect and pass its judgments on Muslim children and Muslim
schools. Bilingual Muslim educationalists should be employed for
the inspection of the Muslim schools who should not only be well
versed in English, Arabic or Urdu but also in Sciences and humanities
subjects.
April 2008
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