MUSLIMS in Slough have high hopes if they expect a quarter of the pupils in their new taxpayer-funded school to be not of the “faith”.
But that’s the optimistic claim of the Slough Islamic School Project, whose new, 630-pupil primary
school – the town’s first state Muslim school – is due to begin construction in January (though it actually got approval in February 2006).
Slough will not be the only town whose “century of change” – as depicted on the book (right) – will be topped off by more sectarian education, as the British government plans ever more “faith” schools, no doubt believing, or hoping we’ll swallow the nonsense, that it will bring about community cohesion and cultural integration.
Where has the dosh come from? Well, you and I – i.e. the taxpayers – are paying about £1.35 million. A mere – by comparison – £150,000 has been raised by supporters of the project.
One distinctly sceptical voice is that of the National Secular Society. Of the claim that 25 per cent of pupils will be non-Muslim, it says in its e-zine Newsline,
Oh really? And where are they going to find the 157 non-Muslim pupils who are going to want to go to a school that has an Islamic ethos, where Islam “informs” every lesson, from Maths to PE? They must think we were born yesterday?
The idea is complete flim-flam aimed at deflecting criticism that this school, like all other “faith schools”, will have a catastrophic separating effect on the community it supposedly serves. Never mind, I’m sure the local imams are very pleased, and will be making full use of this new opportunity for brainwashing it offers them.
The director of the Slough Islamic School Project, Zafar Ali, says the land purchase – from Slough Borough Council – was completed this week. “I am so pleased that we own the site. I am going to go there with a spade and dig a hole!” he said.
Many of those who object to seeing their money spent on sectarian education might invite him to jump into it – followed by the religion-soaked ministers and councillors who allow this enforced segregation in the name of “faith” to continue.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
November 25th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Salaam
There are hundreds of state schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion all such schools may be designated as Muslim community schools.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I live in slough, and on this particular street where the proposed muslim school is set to open, there is also a C of E school and a Sikh school. Though i have been brought up as a sikh, i would NEVER let my own children go to a sikh school- or any faith school – as they only promote social separation and ethnic divide. I would much prefer my kids to be tolerable toward people of all faiths and beliefs, rather than sticking with a group of brainwashed children.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Salaam
London School of Islamics is an educational Trust. Its aim is to make
British public, institutions and media aware of the needs and demands of the
Muslim community in the field of education and possible solutions.
Slough Islamic school Trust Slough had a seminar on Muslim
education and schools in Thames Valley Atheltic Centre. The seminar was
addressed by the education spokesman of MCB. I could not attend the seminar
but I believe lot of Muslims from Slough and surrounding areas must have
attended. Very soon, the Muslims of Slough will have a state funded Muslim
school but there is a need for more schools. A day will come when all Muslim
children will attend state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim
teachers as role model.
Muslim schools are not only faith schools but they are more or less
bilingual schools.
Bilingual Muslim children need to learn standard English to follow the
National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve
humanity. They need to be well versed in Arabic to recite and understand the
Holy Quran. They need to be well versed in Urdu and other community
languages to keep in touch with their cultural roots and enjoy the beauty of
their literature and poetry.
Bilingualism is an asset but the British schooling regards it as a
problem. A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He/she does not
want to become notoriously monolingual Brit. Pakistan is only seven hours
from London and majority of British Muslims are from Pakistan.
More than third of British Muslim have no qualifications. British school
system has been failing large number of Muslims children for the last 60
years. Muslim scholars see the pursuit of knowledge as a duty, with the
Quran containing several verses to the rewards of learning. 33% of British
Muslims of working age have no qualifications and Muslims are also the least
likely to have degrees or equivalent qualifications. Most of estimated
500,000 Muslim school-aged pupils in England and Wales are educated in the
state system with non-Muslim monolingual teachers. Majority of them are
underachievers because they are at a wrong place at a wrong time.
Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual
Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. There is no place for a
non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school. As far as higher education
is concerned, Muslim students can be educated with others. Let Muslim
community educate its own children so that they can develop their own
Islamic, cultural and linguistic identities and become usefull members of
the British society rather than becoming a buden.
We are living in an English speaking country and English is an
international language, therefore, we want our children to learn and be well
versed in standard English and at the same time well versed in Arabic, Urdu
and other community languages. Is there anything wrong with this approach?
It is not only the Muslim community who would like to send their children to
Muslim school. Sikh and Hindu communities have started setting up their
schools. Last week. British Black Community has planned the first all black
school with Black teachers in Birmingham.
Scotland’s first state funded Muslim school could get the go-ahead within
months after First Munister Alex Salmond declared he was sympathetic towards
the needs and demands of the Muslim community.
Iftikhar Ahmad
London School of Islamics Trust
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
There is nothing wrong with helping kids learn another language. I got a smattering of French at school, and it’s helped me a little. Arabic is not needed, though, if all you want it for is to read a desiccated old scripture, because there is no need, and I stress the word need, to learn the Koran. It’s just superstition made up by a madman who thought the Archangel Jibrail/Gabriel was talking to him. They did in those days, and people these can’t see that, back then, it was understandable that people would try to create a model for the creation of the universe (or the flat Earth, as many saw it back then, with the stars in some sort of firmament).
I’m sorry, but you’ve shown yourself to be one who wants Islam to insinuate itself into Western society with the words you use: ” Its aim is to make
British public, institutions and media aware of the needs and demands of the
Muslim community in the field of education and possible solutions.” Demands? Who are you to demand anything? You must take your place alongside me and him and her and the rest of us. You have no more right to demand than I do. Muslims make too many demands: look at the blog I write for, especially this story, to see what I mean.
Someone has left a comment there, saying that it’s only a matter of time before the majority rise up against all this carping and moaning and demanding and threatening and would-be censorship (of cartoons, of pig ornaments, of pig stories that “offend” your poor sensitivities), of short films that dare to criticise some of the mad bits of your “holy book”.
Come on! No one in Britain has to read this tosh. They’d be better off getting a good all-round education – and I’m afraid religion is just superstition. Let us learn about it, but not have it shoved down our throats. Yours ought to be left in the Middle East, or preferably expunged from thinking society by logical argument and ridicule.
If half the Asian kids in this country had not been born to parents who are not quite in touch with reality because they believe in the utter drivel you believe in, my friend, they’d truly be playing a better part in society. Fortunately, some are rebelling; unfortunately, other young Muslims are taking up jihad, with dangerous consequences.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Salaam
Fear and ignorance is the basis for prejudice and bigotry.
February 14th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Andy Armitage
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Thank you Andy, you said ‘it’ for me. The divisions in our country are something to behold are they not? How have we allowed this to happen?? What can be done to ‘undo’ it?? So ‘Fitna’ wasn’t ‘fit’to be shown eh?? Why not?? Because the Muslims said so.
Iftikhar Ahmad
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Salaam
Fear and ignorance is the basis for prejudice and bigotry.
THEN STOP BEING SO IGNORANT!!!!!!!!!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Why do people have a problem with muslim schools? We have christian and catholic schools and no-one has a problem with them do they!
The same way muslims attend christian and catholic schools, a child of any other religion can attend a muslim school. Where is the difference? It is pure ignorance that causes this view, if u learnt more about muslims and not just listen to the media Im sure your views would be different.
March 6th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Broken Britain
Britain has a broken society. This is a dark portrait but it is very true. Children are left to rot and they grew into animals. Binge drinking, drug addiction, a culture of disrespect and antisocial behavior, teenage pregnancies and abortions, knife and gun culture are part and parcel of every day life in all big city centers. The teenage pregnancies and the sheer madness of sex education teach nothing about morality. British society is suffering from unprecedented social decay and societal breakdown, according to the Children’s Society shocking evidence. Britain has more broken families than other countries. British children are rougher with each other, and live more riskily in terms of alcohol, drugs and teenage pregnancies. Britain’s rate of teenage pregnancy is the highest in Western Europe. According to official figures, nearly half of all babies are now born out of wedlock. They are more likely to suffer social, mental and emotional problems. Research has revealed that migrants in Britain are more likely to have children within marriage. The teaching of sex education could not curb teenage pregnancies. Infact, it has simply increased. This is a clear indication of broken society. It is an eye opening for the Muslim community who sends their children to state schools with non-Muslim monolingual teachers.
In broken Britain, the break downs of family are ripping apart communities. According to a report, Scottish schools like English schools have become home for rapes, gun and knife culture, drug dealing, gang culture and racism. It is a horrendous portrayal of the collapse of civilized life and of human despair. Carrying weapons is becoming the norms, violence is “routine” and families are terrorized by gangs. Every parent is worried about his child being indoctrinated into the idea that gay and sexual promiscuity is “normal” modes of behavior. Homosexuality was regarded as mental illness but now blue eyed western educated elites are its defenders and promoters. The spectre of hidden epidemic of sex crimes inside Britain’s classrooms has emerged after Scotland Yard revealed there have been nearly 900 rapes or sex attacks in schools. The vast majority of victims were school children under the age of 16. As many as one in three were under 11. According to official figures, hundreds of children under the age of 12 were treated for addiction to drink and drugs.
Children are being taught that sexually transmitted diseases could be easily treated and there is no acknowledgement of the emotional harm of premature sexual activity. The truth is that more sex education and contraception are provided to children and teenagers, the more they fall pregnant. Studies have shown that access to contraception and sex education, sexual activity and conception and pregnancy rates go up. The sexual health of young Londoners is a “major public health issue” and still among the worst in the country, despite innovative projects and improvements in services.
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. The significance and value of Muslim schools is that the Islamic religion imposed obligations of good citizenship, keeping the peace and paying taxes. While ambition of state school is to get children humping each other before they are out of primary school and giving them parenting classes when they are fourteen to help the girls cope with the babies they will have conceived at thirteen.
Iftikhar Ahmad
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