CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
A new chapter unfolded for the English–speaking communities in Qatar as a school offering Islamic Studies opened at the Edison International Academy on Saturday.
The school, a first of its kind, will use Edison International Academy facilities to teach Islamic Studies to children of various nationalities aged between four and 17 .
The person behind the establishment of the school is Abdul Maliek Cassiem, the South African principal of the Madrassa. The motto of the school is ‘Give the gift of studying Islam to your child’.
The opening ceremony was attended by South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa, Ghanaian Ambassador to Qatar HE Emmanuel Enos, Nigerian Embassy Charge d’ Affairs Auwalu Namadina and former Pakistani envoy.
Speaking at the ceremony, the South African ambassador said there was a need for the English-speaking children to enhance their Islamic education.
"This is such an important milestone because it will allow our children to have a better balance in terms of deeds. We are hoping that at some stage in the near future, we will see if we can formalise a curriculum that caters to expatriates in a broader way,” he said, adding, there are talks of how they can work together with others to see they can bring this curriculum.
"As the African ambassadors get together and discuss further how we can bring an African school. Other communities here like Indians and Pakistanis have schools but Africans do not have these schools yet,” he said.
He said they have managed to successfully integrate Islamic education with normal schooling education in South Africa.
"Most importantly, I would like to thank the parents for bringing their children to further themselves in Islamic Studies,” he noted.
The ambassador also thanked the volunteer teachers. "Let’s be generous to assist the teachers who are sacrificing their time to educate our children.”
Cassiem said that ever since he came to Qatar in 2000 he has been a teacher in four different schools and that’s where the inspiration to start a school for Islamic Studies began.
"I noticed that in all these schools. English-speaking children didn’t get Islamic Studies like the Quran or Arabic language because the teachers used the Arabic language,” he said.
In January this year Cassiem gave a proposal to Principal of Edison International Academy Ms. Candice asking if they could accommodate them every Saturday to conduct Islamic Studies for English-speaking children and the proposal was approved by the owner of Edison Madam Aida Ashery.
He said the school currently has around 120 students from various backgrounds and cultures. "We started with two classes, then four, then six and today we have 10 classes. Parents are asking for their lessons as well.”
Cassiem said that before the official opening on Saturday, the school had done a pilot programme for five months before the summer break.
The school has about 12 teachers – from South Africa, Sudan, India, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Cassiem said that the subjects to be taught include Quran reading and memorisation, Arabic, Fiqh, History, Etiquette, DOA’S and Hadith.
DOHA
A new chapter unfolded for the English–speaking communities in Qatar as a school offering Islamic Studies opened at the Edison International Academy on Saturday.
The school, a first of its kind, will use Edison International Academy facilities to teach Islamic Studies to children of various nationalities aged between four and 17 .
The person behind the establishment of the school is Abdul Maliek Cassiem, the South African principal of the Madrassa. The motto of the school is ‘Give the gift of studying Islam to your child’.
The opening ceremony was attended by South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa, Ghanaian Ambassador to Qatar HE Emmanuel Enos, Nigerian Embassy Charge d’ Affairs Auwalu Namadina and former Pakistani envoy.
Speaking at the ceremony, the South African ambassador said there was a need for the English-speaking children to enhance their Islamic education.
"This is such an important milestone because it will allow our children to have a better balance in terms of deeds. We are hoping that at some stage in the near future, we will see if we can formalise a curriculum that caters to expatriates in a broader way,” he said, adding, there are talks of how they can work together with others to see they can bring this curriculum.
"As the African ambassadors get together and discuss further how we can bring an African school. Other communities here like Indians and Pakistanis have schools but Africans do not have these schools yet,” he said.
He said they have managed to successfully integrate Islamic education with normal schooling education in South Africa.
"Most importantly, I would like to thank the parents for bringing their children to further themselves in Islamic Studies,” he noted.
The ambassador also thanked the volunteer teachers. "Let’s be generous to assist the teachers who are sacrificing their time to educate our children.”
Cassiem said that ever since he came to Qatar in 2000 he has been a teacher in four different schools and that’s where the inspiration to start a school for Islamic Studies began.
"I noticed that in all these schools. English-speaking children didn’t get Islamic Studies like the Quran or Arabic language because the teachers used the Arabic language,” he said.
In January this year Cassiem gave a proposal to Principal of Edison International Academy Ms. Candice asking if they could accommodate them every Saturday to conduct Islamic Studies for English-speaking children and the proposal was approved by the owner of Edison Madam Aida Ashery.
He said the school currently has around 120 students from various backgrounds and cultures. "We started with two classes, then four, then six and today we have 10 classes. Parents are asking for their lessons as well.”
Cassiem said that before the official opening on Saturday, the school had done a pilot programme for five months before the summer break.
The school has about 12 teachers – from South Africa, Sudan, India, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Cassiem said that the subjects to be taught include Quran reading and memorisation, Arabic, Fiqh, History, Etiquette, DOA’S and Hadith.