Thiruvananthapuram, June 28: A Madrasa boarding school in Kerala is planning to change its language of instruction from Arabic to English. The step has been taken in an effort to make students and others interpret Islam correctly.
Many of the text books have already been translated into English. There are also lessons on the importance of English education. The Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidyabhyasa Board, which runs close to 1.5 lakh Madrasas and affiliated schools in Kerala and in the gulf, hopes the move would help Madrasas shed their separatist image besides helping students make the right connect with Islam.
“Since the medium of instruction in the Madrasas have always been Arabic not many children connected well with Islam and its right ways. Many of them even misunderstood the religion also. By getting in English we hope to make the education more attractivem” says convenor for syllabus reform Abdul Samad Pukottur.
Over a million students across Kerala attend the schools run by Samastha, an offshoot of Sunni Islam. The students are thrilled at the change since they know that English will open the doors of opportunity for them.
Teachers at the Madrasa feel the introduction of English will help in clearing the doubts people have about what is being taught at Madrasas.
–Agencies