English medium school in Hyderabad to impart both madrassa and modern education to its students

Updated on: Friday, April 12, 2013

Come June, the city will get a new English medium school that will impart both madrassa and modern education to its students simultaneously. Welcoming the move, observers on said that this first-of-its-kind institution would narrow the divide between the two diametrically opposite methods of learning and bring about a sea change in education of madrassa students.

While the city has around half a dozen 'international schools' which offer deeniyat (basic religious instruction) to its students, the Rahmani International School in Shaheen Nagar, set to be operational in June, will offer CBSE education along with conferring aalim degrees, traditionally offered by madrassas alone. According to those in the know, the school management intends to emulate the madrassa model of education followed in the UK that lays emphasis on teaching English, computer science and has digital classes.

"The trend is observed mostly in the NRI community that wants their children to retain their religious identities while not compromising on an English medium education. This school will also benefit the conventional madrassa student who can now have a class X pass certificate which will increase his employability," noted an observer.

The brainchild of renowned city cleric Maula Khalid Saifullah Rahmani who also runs the Islamic seminary Al Mahad Al Aali Al Islami, students of the school can opt to appear for intermediate course leading to professional degree programmes. They could even choose to continue to pursue a career in theology. "Islamic courses will be taught both in English and Arabic. We are willing to sponsor the education of those willing to study professional courses such as law or journalism. Those who want to study the religion will have the flexibility of going for mufti or fazil courses. Students will be well equipped for both worlds," Rahmani said.

Apart from introducing a modern curriculum, the management of the soon-to-open school has also revised the madrassa syllabus by introducing books that are the outcome of latest research in Western countries like the Canada, UK, USA and even South Africa for the aalim course. Further, subjects like Persian and mantiq (philosophy) have been dropped. "Arabic grammar which is taught in Persian has been scrapped as it is no longer practical. The course on fiqh (jurisprudence) has been shortened so that it doesn't burden students. Further, the eight year aalim course has been shortened to six years. But this doesn't mean all madrassas should change their syllabus," noted scholar Omar Abidin said.

English medium school in Hyderabad to impart both madrassa and modern education to its students

More Education news