State support of Muslim Supplimentary Schools
Should Muslim supplementary schools aka 'madrassahs' be supported by the Local Education Authority?
I had a meeting today with some folks at Birmingham LEA to discuss community engagement strategies to raise the appalling achievement of Muslims children here. Lots of motherhood and apple pie, but they meant well. What surprised me though was the discovery that they are providing advisory support to madrassahs.
In my usual irreverent style, I balked at such a notion and mumbled something about how the madrassah system of education has failed an entire generation of Muslims in Britain. It didn't go down very well.
Allegedly, things have moved on and they are really quite progressive now, offering a range of sporting and extra curricular activities to stimulate young minds.
I'm sure 'some' are. But the numbers speak for themselves. How does an immigrant population in less than 50 years, manage to fill 11% of prisons and enjoy the highest levels of economic inactivity aka 'wont work, cant work' in the country?
Clearly, there are lots of factors. But TB didn't win an election for saying Education three times for no reason.
Education, in its widest and fullest sense, will always be the backbone to an individual and to his/her community. The Muslim community had a strategy to help educate their children. You can say I am wrong, but, based on the evidence available, they have failed miserably.
Please don't feel compelled to tell me the story of historical inequalities, prejudice and the culture of low expectation...I am fully aware of the characters, the plot and the twist at the end of that story. But to acknowledge the failure of the one thing they did have control over, is the only empowering position to take. Anything else is merely about blaming the other and being a victim.
I think it's great that the LEA can gift its advice to these failed institutions, because despite my apparent irreverence, I know they can be a power for good. I see young professionals starting to 'give back' by taking the lead in these places and helping marginalised children grow into adults with a future beyond the benefits office. I am given much cause for hope for succeeding generations.
But I am also a realist. This will only happen on masse when the 2000 hours that the average Muslim child spends at the more traditional madrassah, can also be used a little more constructively. To put that number in context, consider this:
In the 2000 hours dedicated to learning how to 'recite' the Quran in Arabic (with no understanding of its meaning), a student in school could have learned French, Spanish and Arabic to GCSE level!
What did Einstein say..."Madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result". Its time for change.
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Faraz Yousufzai
Birmingham’s leading voice on Muslim youth.
Well said. Local authoritiy support for these institutions is a substitute for dealing with the real problem. The Council is terrified of being accused of racism or failing a community or such like. It won't help Muslim children get on in their own country and the money would be better spent on maths lessons. Didn't Muslims invent maths?
Children are children - educate them all the same way and you'll get the same results. Divide their education and you have them growing up not understanding what it is like to live alongside people of different creed or colour.
Religion - destroying communities since the year dot.
Well said Faraz - the endless hours spent by Muslim children rote learning is a total disgrace and an absolute waste of resources and time that we will be held accountable for.
Brian Smith, "It won't help Muslim children get on in their own country "...
Britain is THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
We have to realise that Britain is no longer the "host" country. Britain is home. As such Muslims are duty bound to build and contribute, and the government and its offices are duty bound to treat Muslims like citizens. It's a two way street of rights and responsibilities.
Restaurant pie, "Religion - destroying communities since the year dot."
Ah no - people use religion, like they use other things to legitimate their own power trips and political amibitions. Wars are founght for land, money, power, oil... Religion is one legitimating excuse. Racial superiority, cultural superioriry, political dogma, liberty and democracy, heck even football, have all been other excuses for killing our fellow human beings and generally making the world a worse place.
Religion can be a force for good. Fire in the hands of a chef cooks the food, fire in the hands of an arsonist blows up the building. But you can't blame the fire.
Dream Catcher - "Britain is their own country". Er.. Yes, exactly. Rote learning won't help Muslim children get on in their own country... which is what I said.
Re ...your writing..."But the numbers speak for themselves. How does an immigrant population in less than 50 years, manage to fill 11% of prisons and enjoy the highest levels of economic inactivity aka 'wont work, cant work' in the country?"...this again bring's to light what your all about, i.e. taking as much as you can out of the pot with total disregard for anyone else , and putting nothing back in it ,forget about this £3B your community has supposed to contributed to the economy , let the government state how much you have cost the UK with your welfare handout's , the policing that is necessary to check on what your up to , the money that is taken and sent back to your country of origin , the damage caused by terrorism that includes the extra cost's we all have when we need to travel but have hours put on our journey because of the need to have our luggage checked , our clothing checked , having to purchase food and drinks inside the airport because we are not allowed to take these good's through . Us Brits still cant understand why you lot come over here and try to change things to the way's of the countries you have deserted , and cause our population these inconveniences , truthfully we do know why you come over here and your paragraph say's it all , enough is enough , you all appear to be more trouble than your worth , this site speaks for itself , it's been set up then left with Faraz Yousufzai just ignoring any of the comment's made . If the muslim community want their children educated in muslim way's then it's easy enough to do ' just go and live in a muslim country ' !!. Why doesn't the 'Mail' just shut this hate site down.