#012: The Difference Between a Muslim School & an Islamic One, and Where You Fit In

The MakkahCentric Education Podcast

What’s the difference between a Muslim school and an Islamic School?

That’s what we’re getting into on today’s episode.

The term “Islamic school” is normally used to describe private schools that serve Muslim children. However most of these schools are more accurately classified as “Muslims schools”. Dr. Nadeem Memon defines Islamic schools as “institutions that strive to define school ethos, curriculum, and pedagogy through the traditional sources of Islamic knowledge: the Quran and the Prophet tradition” (Memon, 2009, p.4). Whereas, Muslim schools are more concerned with facilitating “a learning environment conducive to Muslim dress, diet, and observance” without an actual educational philosophy or curriculum to guide and inform the school.

Below is a chart that summarizes the key differences I discuss today’s episode.

The reality is that times are changing fast, and Muslim youth are facing many new challenges. From secularism and its branches, Islamophobia, unemployment, climate change, mental illnesses, and the mass manipulation vehicle known as social media, the system of old is not up-to-date with students’ current needs.

An important question is, what educational philosophies do schools have in place to ensure our youth are graduating with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be able to face and navigate society so that these challenges don’t cause them to lose their eman?!

And what is your role in developing the whole Muslim child and preparing them for the 21st Century and beyond?

What can you do to adapt your teaching to provide a more relevant education that is Islamic at core? Listen and find out.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

• how thinking like a marketer can help you identify your school’s unique advantage.
• the criticisms against the public schooling system and why we need think outside or ahead of that system, and not just follow.
• the differences between Muslim schools in Muslim countries and Muslim private schools in the west, (hint: not very different, but the context is).
• the key differences between Muslim schools and Islamic schools in the view of knowledge, curriculum, Islamization, epistemology, class schedule, educational philosophy, what is emphasized, and Islamic ethos.
• how you can tweak your teaching to provide more Islamically relevant learning experiences
• the messages conveyed through the hidden curriculum and how that gives the child mixed messages about the superiority of Islam
• examples of current schools and frameworks that adopt Islamic educational philosophies.
• and much more >>> Listen here

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Jazakumullahu khairan for listening! Now it’s your turn to share your knowledge…. In the comments, tell us one thing you learned in this episode that can help you become a better educator.

The post #012: The Difference Between a Muslim School & an Islamic One, and Where You Fit In appeared first on Podcast for Muslim Teachers.