WAMY Launches Madressas in Schools
WAMY has pioneered the establishment of Madressas in public schools. The first such madressa has been established in the Isipingo Primary School in Umlazi with about 150 children in 3 classes daily for two hours. Two other Madressas have been established in other areas of Umlazi with about 30 children each. While Islam is being taught at a basic level the emphasis is on Tahdib (moral education) and this has elicited a very positive response from the staff and parents.

WAMY has by way of kind contribution of a Muslim business funded the renovation of the ablution block in the school.

The response to the “Madressa in School” initiative has now sprerad to other schools in the area and WAMY is arranging to open a few more Madressas. With the introduction of pre-schools and madressas, the need for feeding schemes has also become a priority in the disadvantaged communities. In many of these centres, feeding schemes has been initiated.

Although the madressa programme was launched a few months ago, at the recent SADN Madressa Jalsa, our madressa won 3 awards.

The madressa education programme in schools provides ready-made and easy access to communities fotr the introduction to the Islamic value system and way of life. If you wish to introduce this programme in your area, please call Sheik Salim Banda at the WAMY office in Durban to assist you in setting up the programme.

Gallery - Click thumbnails for larger images









13 Madressas - School & Home based
During the Apartheid era it was difficult for us as Muslims to access the schools in disadvantaged areas, as these schools were only accessible to Christians and to the propagation of Christianity. We had to request permission from the Department of Education before gaining access to schools.

Alhamdulillah the situation has changed and now Governing Bodies are now inviting us to address their staff and learners on Islam as well as to establish Madressas in Schools. The first Madressa was established by WAMY in 2003 at the Isiphingo Primary School - Umlazi, U Section, when the principal approached us to establish a pilot Madressa program at his school.

The syllabus is initially structured in a way that Islam is being taught in a very rudimentary manner, with the emphasis on Tahdib (moral education) and this has elicited a very positive response from the staff and parents. It has empowered the children with Islamic knowledge and practices like cleanliness, hygiene and behavior. This has also contributed in creating an environment for learning in the schools.
It is also important that we continuously win over the confidence of the schools and communities, therefore WAMY has launched the development of the School Infrastructure program.

This program aims to teach the Madressa learners the importance of Tahaarah (cleanliness) and allow them to put it into practice; create a positive exposure of Islam; alleviate human suffering, misery and improve the welfare of people; address the critical health care needs which are in line with the preventive healthcare programs; dawah for development; promote some form of reason, honor and respect from the many critics of Islam. At the same time, rehabilitating the ablution blocks at the schools.

The success of this program has been incredible. Two teachers accepted Islam, the Principal distributed Islamic books to his staff and other principals from other schools, the parents have given written permission to the school to send their children to the Madressa and the number of children attending Madressa has increased from 25 to 230 over a period of 4 months. It is the vision of the principal that entire school will be attending Madressa one day - Insha Allah, 5 more school based Madressas have been established and many other schools have appealed to WAMY to establish Madressas.

With the introduction of preschools and Madressas, the need for feeding schemes has also become a priority in the disadvantaged communities. Many of these centres benefit from the feeding schemes that have been initiated.