Forum Topic

Association of Muslim Governors

Association of Muslim GovernorsThere is a shortage of school governors and it is difficult to find a Muslim governor in a state schools. A campaign has started to recruit more and more Muslim governors.  In 2003, there were only 53 Muslim schools and now there are more than 126 full-time Muslim schools and more are in the pipe line because of racism and anti-Muslim feeling in state schools. The silent majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools. In my opinion, AOMG and MCB should campaign for more state funded Muslim schools rather than asking for more Muslim governors in state schools. Muslim children are disadvantaged by an education system that perpetuates inequalities. British media and schooling tried their best to mirror Islamic cultural values as inferior, backward traditions and unworthy. This cultural obliteration is being made possible by the negation of the right to speak Urdu and Arabic as well as choice of dress.I think that Muslim governors in state schools are not going to bring any kind of change. I became the first Muslim governor in Newham in the 70s but left after three years. I was the only Muslim governors and I found it a waste of time. In the 90s, Stratford school in Newham was opted out by the board of governors from the LEA. Majority of governors were Muslims. Within a year there was a conflict with the non-Muslim head teacher and the Secretary of State for Education dismissed all the governors and appointed new governors. The head teacher took early retirement and was awarded round about two hundred and fifty thousands pounds as a reward for getting rid of Muslim governorsThere are hundreds of state schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion, those schools should be designated as Muslim community schools. State funded Muslim schools are the solution and not the problem. Muslim pupils are bilingual. Bilingualism strengthens their cultural identity and foster educational success. It is such a gift to a child, that it is irresponsible not to encourage its natural development. Trilingual 11-years olds outperform monolingual children in reading tests. They are five times more likely to get five A-C grades at GCSE than those who don’t. Bilingualism and biculturalism should be valued and recognized by the teachers. If children’s education leads them to believe that the language of their parents is somehow “inferior”, the chances of their feeling out of place in their extra-familial environment are likely to be greater (“banlieux” of Paris, November 2005?). Telling them to “go home”, to a “home” where they were not born, is no sort of a solution. The price of ignoring children’s bilingualism is educational failure and social exclusion. Learning to read in three languages has social, emotional and cognitive advantages, according to a study of 5-7 years olds in Watford. The children learn English, Urdu and Arabic at the same time at the age of five.Iftikhar Ahmad www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 6651d7 Comments

JimPerhaps not in our lifetime, but relatively soon, our culture and traditions will disappear altogether, if the infamous, non responsive Iftikhar Ahmad has his way. He continues to spout his bile about the host country, yet apparently in no hurry to find a country where he would be allowed to speak his tiny mind. I can think of a couple where he would disappear overnight if he did.This man has not the slightest idea of how the freedoms that he continues to abuse was won. Well Iftikhar for your information I lost two of my relatives in WW1, one was just 16 when he was killed in the battle of Loos and the other 23 a proud Scots guardsman killed in Belgium, and whose name is inscribed on the Menin Gate. Go to France or Belgium Iftikhar, and take a tour of the war graves, and think about those brave (mainly) men and children who gave their tomorrows for your today, AND GIVE THANKS TO YOUR GOD FOR THEIR UNSELFISH SACRIFICE. (sorry for shouting) We lost the flower of our youth in this war, but when I listen to your bile, I wonder why they did, when I read your insulting, steretyping abuse.In WW2, we in this Island stood alone against the mighty German war machine, and we were bombed by the luftwaffe night after night after night. Many of our men and women both from here and the commonwealth gave their lives so that people like you can condemn us with impunity.My advice to you Iftikhar, is to look around you and see how well off you are in spite of our faults. And remember if we all had failed to stem the onslaught, you would be getting 10 laceholes of a jackboot in the nether regions or worse still sent to a concentration camp, for daring to criticise them.As you see they (Germans) were not as tolerant as we are Iftikhar.Constructive criticism Iftikhar is fine, and is everyones right, so my advice to you is, if you want Ruth Kelly or us the plebs to listen to you, have a debate about it, but somehow I won't be holding my breath you come across as a very bitter, selfish, ungrateful man. As the Germans found out to their cost, don't push us so our backs are againstt the wall Iftikhar.

Account suspended ● 6631d

I know an Indian Muslim family well.The wife was married off at the age of 13years..because of the rampant an immoral males running around the Islamic area in that part of India.When I asked if they ever listen to the beautiful church choirs on the BBC Radio..I was told that such music was banned in the house!  I asked about any love in the household for the music of Elgar or even Brahms and Beethoven. Sadly, "they" are not interested in English and European culture..and our country is under peril from this onslaught!  The family are nice people though!..but I hate to hear that those super church choirs of ours are snubbed by certain incomers. The Poles (mainly Roman Catholic) love church music.

Jim Lawes ● 6631d

JeanThere is also a peace loving muslim family next door to me. Their 2 sons attend a local junior school, and are well rounded. The daughter who is a lot older is doing exceedingly well. Oh I almost forgot, they all speak perfect English!

Account suspended ● 6633d

The muslim children who live next door to me are all at state schools and appear to be doing well

Jean Gilmore ● 6633d

IftikharWe know what you want, you have repeated it ad nauseum, Try and answer some of the questions, or is it all going over your head? Muslim children are not the only ones who need to learn English, there are very many more, and it is putting a huge strain on our budgets!How about setting up English lessons in the mosques after school and at week-ends? No more of what you want please, I think that I have got that message1

Account suspended ● 6633d

SalaamLondon School of Islamics is interested in the education of Muslim children. They need to learn standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. State schools with monolingual teahers do not know how to teach English as a second language. As a result majority of Muslim children leave schools with low grades. State schools are reluctant to teach Arabic, Urdu and other community languages. The result is that they find themselves cut off from their ciultural roots. They are unable to enjoy the beauty of their literature. All of them suffer from Identity Crises.Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models for the teaching and learning of English, Arabic, Urdu and other community languages. English is our economic language and we would like to see our children well versed in English. Arabic is our religious language while Urdu and other languages are our social and emotioan languages.

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 6633d

NormaI think you will find that Iftikhar cannot/will not answer any questions that anyone puts to him. He sounds a very bitter ungrateful man, who has nothing better to do or say!He stereotypes us as the host community, and yet will scream out if anybody does the same to him as a Muslim. I would suggest that if I was in his shoes, I would look to settle somewhere else that caters for my wishes...Saudi Arabia, Iran,or Ethiopia perhaps! But are they democratic?

Account suspended ● 6633d

"Trilingual 11-years olds outperform monolingual children in reading tests."Is this because they speak 3 languages? Or some other reason. On a simple level you have to be "clever" in order to speak 3 languages, and therefore would expect to outperform. Do you have any basis for saying the head was rewarded with getting rid of Muslim governors?

Norma Harrison ● 6641d