Expert recommends Islamic studies classes after school hours

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 4 years ago · Published on 25 Nov 2019 9:32PM · 6 Comments

Muslim pupils pray, while their non-Muslim friends wait for the session to end. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 25, 2019.

RELIGIOUS classes such as Islamic studies should be held after school hours in order to build more harmony between pupils of different communities, said Dr Sharifah Munirah Syed Alatas, senior lecturer in strategic studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

According to Sharifah, the separation of pupils that occurs when religious classes are taught leaves a deep impression that reinforces their differences.

Instead, religious classes should be held after official school hours when all children are dismissed, said the academic.

“Do not separate the children. Don’t make them feel that they are different because remember: there are kids who are minorities,” Sharifah said after attending a forum on social trends post GE14 at Universiti Malaya.

“When the majority go off somewhere to learn something different it’s very impressionable on the kids. They have to grow up as a group going throughout the school day together.

“Have religious classes after school hours. You can have them in the school building when the school is dismissed and bring in the parents.”

Islamic studies is part of the official school syllabus in all national and national-type schools, and are only for Muslims.

During religious classes, Muslims and non-Muslims are separated into different classes and the latter are put into classes for moral studies.

However, creeping religious conservatism among certain Muslim administrators has inflamed tensions between communities.

School administrators have caused controversy for building separate canteens for Muslims and non-Muslim children, while one school was even found to have separate cups at shared drinking fountains.

Another school in Petaling Jaya was also criticised for forcing non-Muslim children to eat in changing rooms during Ramadan when Muslim kids were fasting.

Sharifah said these instances could be traced back to how kids are seen coming from different communities because they are physically and mentally separated during religious classes.

“(Religious classes) can be in the syllabus but after school hours, where there is no physical separation of kids coming back (to sit in one class again after leaving for religious classes) and separate canteens and all these little things.”

“Norms are arising of this. This is the danger and I see it multiplying – religious associated problems in school.”

Sharifah said these instances of intercommunal friction in national schools have driven non-Muslim and Muslim parents away.

“Muslims are fleeing national schools for international schools. Religious subjects should be taught after school.” – November 25, 2019.

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Comments

  • Because of increasingly extreme religious education and school administrators, Muslims are fleeing national schools not only for international schools but also Mandarin medium schools.

    Posted 4 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • Why not conduct the classes at the mosques?

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Agree. In the old days religious classes even for the Catholics in Missionary Schools were held after school hours

    Posted 4 years ago by Geraldine Jambu · Reply

  • Msia has build very expensive mosques why not the mosques serve their muslim people by teaching Quran, Khat etc etc to muslims in the mosque. Place of Worship shld BE UTILISED IN RIGHT USE TO BENEFIT muslims.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • REAL EDUCATION for Earning Bread n Butter SHOULD NEVER BE MIXED WITH RELIGION. Education for Human Survival Religion for Soul Survival. Both are different approach n different syallbas.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • History, Literature and Religious studies have many similarities but in actual facts they have many conflicting features. Literature via stories teaches the freedom to critical thinking and in my world view is the key to improve language, analytical skills and critical thinking. All three subjects tell stories. Religious studies need not divide the students if the intention is to give a clear understanding of all religions' doctrines without going into the rituals. In Malaysia, there is over emphasis on RS and it divides the people.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply