UK Adds Islamic History to National School Curriculum
Education Secretary Michael Gove announced his revised national curriculum earlier this week which includes a module on early Islam.
It also features a module on ancient China and gives history teachers more flexibility. Climate change has also been added to the curriculum.
The Education Secretary made the changes after an early draft of the new curriculum in February was subjected to widespread criticism by teachers.
That earlier draft was also harshly criticized by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which said it is “deeply disappointed” that it made no reference to Muslims and Islam. The MBC, which claims to represent more than 500 Islamic organizations, called at that time for "everyone who cares about the education of British schoolchildren" to lobby the Department for Education.
The changes have been made. David Cameron described the changes as a “revolution in education”, but school leaders warned that the new curriculum, to be introduced next year, may still not be fit for the 21st century.
Mr. Gove said that officials in his department had spent years examining the curriculum used in places such as Hong Kong, Massachusetts and Singapore while developing the present curriculum.
Chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques has welcomed the introduction of the history of Islam to UK public schools.
Salim Mulla said it was ‘great’ that Education Secretary Michael Gove’s new curriculum included the optional module.
Mr. Mulla said: “We need to get a better understanding of all faiths. Now, Muslims are the second biggest minority in this country, so we welcome this change.
“There is already a good understanding of Christianity taught in schools. Muslims believe in Jesus Christ. They have to in order to be a Muslim.
But I don’t think a lot of Christians really understand what the Muslim faith is about.”
A spokesman for the Blackburn Diocese Board of Education (DBE) said: “The Blackburn DBE endorses a National Curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of later life, particularly, in a fast changing globalized world.
“As is well known, the early Islamic civilizations gave much to the world – and we would certainly support the teaching of such an important part of world history.”
The new curriculum will be introduced in 2014, but not at free schools and academies, which set their own curriculum.
Source: Islam Today
The Education Secretary made the changes after an early draft of the new curriculum in February was subjected to widespread criticism by teachers.
That earlier draft was also harshly criticized by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which said it is “deeply disappointed” that it made no reference to Muslims and Islam. The MBC, which claims to represent more than 500 Islamic organizations, called at that time for "everyone who cares about the education of British schoolchildren" to lobby the Department for Education.
The changes have been made. David Cameron described the changes as a “revolution in education”, but school leaders warned that the new curriculum, to be introduced next year, may still not be fit for the 21st century.
Mr. Gove said that officials in his department had spent years examining the curriculum used in places such as Hong Kong, Massachusetts and Singapore while developing the present curriculum.
Chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques has welcomed the introduction of the history of Islam to UK public schools.
Salim Mulla said it was ‘great’ that Education Secretary Michael Gove’s new curriculum included the optional module.
Mr. Mulla said: “We need to get a better understanding of all faiths. Now, Muslims are the second biggest minority in this country, so we welcome this change.
“There is already a good understanding of Christianity taught in schools. Muslims believe in Jesus Christ. They have to in order to be a Muslim.
But I don’t think a lot of Christians really understand what the Muslim faith is about.”
A spokesman for the Blackburn Diocese Board of Education (DBE) said: “The Blackburn DBE endorses a National Curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of later life, particularly, in a fast changing globalized world.
“As is well known, the early Islamic civilizations gave much to the world – and we would certainly support the teaching of such an important part of world history.”
The new curriculum will be introduced in 2014, but not at free schools and academies, which set their own curriculum.
Source: Islam Today
