Muslim Australians - Religion Cultural Diversity Resource Manual

ISLAMIC SCHOOLS
The Islamic weekend school (Saturday and/or Sunday school) plays an
important role in the life of Muslim children in Australia. Many go
to the weekend school based at the local mosque or prayer facility or
even a rented property to learn about Islam, to read the Qur’an, and study
the language of their parents, for example Arabic, Turkish or Urdu. In these
weekend schools, teachers are often volunteers. Most mosques in Australia offer
some form of weekend program.
The Muslim community also established a number of regular primary and
secondary schools in Australia from the early 1980s. Most of these schools are
based in Sydney and Melbourne where the vast majority of Muslims live, but
there are also schools in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. At the time of writing,
there were about twenty-four of these schools. The total number of students in
these schools is still relatively small. Most Muslim students in Australia attend
state (public) schools, and some go to prestigious private schools as well.
Islamic schools, like other non-government schools, receive Australian
government subsidies. Fees are kept low so that parents (who are often recent
migrants or from working-class backgrounds) can afford to send their children
to these schools. Students learn the same subjects as taught in other public
primary and secondary schools. The various state education departments
monitor the curricula to ensure that basic standards are maintained. The
difference is that students at Islamic schools receive Islamic religious education,
and are usually taught Arabic as well. In all other respects, the curriculum of
the Islamic school is like that of any other public school. Teachers in these
Islamic schools come from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. Only
the religious education teachers are expected to be Muslim.
Students are
expected to
follow Islamic
rules and norms
regarding dress
and food while
they are at
school.
Students are expected to follow Islamic rules and norms regarding dress and
food while they are at school. The school attempts to provide an environment
in which students can enrich their understanding of Islam.
56 Muslim Australians:THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS