UK Study Faults Islam Teaching Methods

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UK Study Faults Islam Teaching Methods

IslamOnline.net & Newspapers

CAIRO — A wide-ranging government-commissioned study is faulting the syllabuses on Islam being taught in universities across the UK especially over failure to engage the Muslims as well as the lack of support for Muslim students on campus, The Times reported on Monday, June 4.

The teaching of Islam in higher education has been conducted "in isolation and probably in complete ignorance of the Muslim community and their patterns of belief and practice," concluded Ataullah Siddiqui, a senior government adviser and director of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education.

The review, entitled "Islam at Universities in England," said Islam studies and academic research in Britain fail to reflect the "realities" of Muslim life in multi-cultural Britain.

Siddiqui found that the old-fashioned studies are generally "irrelevant" to modern society and fall short of presenting Islam as a faith that can co-exist with other religions.

Focusing too narrowly on Arab and Middle Eastern perspectives, the courses often cater for white British students wanting to enter the Foreign Office, he added.

The expert recommended that courses should be more job-related and that departments should link up with religious schools and have more qualified staff.

He suggested that Muslim students should be able to learn parts of the syllabus from Islamic scholars.

There are nearly 90,000 Muslim students studying in higher education institutions across Britain, home to a sizable Muslim minority of nearly 2.0 million.

The majority of the multi-ethnic minority has Indian, Pakistani and Bengali backgrounds. Others have Arab, Mideast or African origins.

No Support

The comprehensive review also criticized the lack of support offered for Muslim students on campuses.

Of the 100 or so universities in England, only 30 had a Muslim adviser, it found.

Only one was paid for his services, four were part-time and the rest were volunteers.

Even the few advisors available had no formal training in counseling or communication.

As a result, many vulnerable students turn to their peer groups for help and the risk is that they can fall into the hands of extremists, Siddiqui cautioned.

The study also showed that not all universities had a guide tackling crucial issues for everyday life of Muslim students like Friday prayers, Ramadan and halal food.

It recommended that universities employ more Muslim chaplains or advisers and join forces with Islamic schools to bridge gaps between British society and its Muslims.

The study also called for more recognition of the importance of campus Islamic societies and more prayer facilities.

Responding to the report, Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell declared that Islamic studies at degree level will be designated "a Strategic subject".

"Dr Siddiqui’s review provides a thoughtful and helpful contribution to a particularly complex and sensitive subject," Rammell said.

"The effective and accurate delivery of Islamic studies within our universities is important for a multitude of reasons including wider community cohesion and preventing violent extremism in the name of Islam."

The report comes a week after a unanimous vote by Britain's largest association for academics, the University and College Union (UCU), not to spy on Muslim students.

A report by the umbrella Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) warned in February that British schools are failing to take into account sensitivities of the 400.000 Muslim school students in regard to religious assemblies, sex education and changing rooms.

 

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