New plans for Muslim state school
PLANS have been launched for Scotland’s first state-backed Islamic primary school.
The Muslim scholar behind the first council-funded Islamic nursery in Glasgow is hoping to open a primary school in the city.
Shaykh Zoheeb Iqbal believes the school would help to ‘stamp out extremism and promote tolerance’.
The move comes after some Islamic schools in England were criticised by inspectors for leaving pupils ‘vulnerable to radicalisation’.
But Mr Iqbal, 25, stressed his school would teach young Muslims to ‘respect all religious beliefs’ and provide a ‘well-rounded’ education.
He said: ‘We want to educate young people so they are confident and strong and understand the true meaning of Islam.
‘There are risks out there, particularly online, where young people can be brainwashed to think other faiths are against them; but it is our responsibility to educate them and ensure they know right and wrong.
‘We would promote tolerance and teach the children about other religions. As a school the main focus would be on the curriculum and the usual core subjects but, like in Catholic schools, there would be a religious ethos and time for prayer and learning about Islam. ‘We plan to open an independent primary school in August and I will be approaching the council to ask for funding. It is only fair to have Muslim schools if you have Catholic schools and other faith schools.’ Mr Iqbal opened Little Wonders Islamic nursery in the Govanhill area of Glasgow in 2015, which was granted partnership with Glasgow City Council last month. A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Any church or other religious body can ask a local authority to open a denominational school and local authorities have the provision to consider such a request under the 1980 Act. ‘The education authority then has to decide if there is sufficient demand and reach a decision.’