Wednesday, 11 September 2013 - 02:06
Rotterdam wants to continue with Islamic education
The Rotterdam education alderman Hugo de Jonge is hopeful about a new start of Islāmic education in Rotterdam.Rotterdam needs and has enthusiasm for Islāmic secondary schools, says De Jonge. It became clear on Tuesday that the Ministry of Education will end funding for the Ibn Ghaldoun in Rotterdam on November 1st.
This followed a report by the Education Inspectorate which concluded there is no future for the school.
De Jonge expects more clarity on a possible new start of Islāmic education in his city around autumn. It is important that the approximately 700 students who have consciously opted for an Islāmic school get good quality education.
Mevlana-moskee
Sherpa, Ruud Zwart
Wikimedia commons The report of the Education Inspectorate Rotterdam also reprimanded the town, partly because of the poor quality of the school buildings. The municipality housed Ibn Ghaldoun in buildings of such poor quality, they were already abandoned by other schools. The inspection found that the buildings are in such poor shape, they don't even meet the minimum quality requirement for good education. This criticism is justified, admits De Jonge. There are discussions with the school board about it and it needs to be resolved quickly. Whether there will also be new and better premises available around autumn, the education alderman could not say. Chairman Tonca of Ibn Ghaldoun wants to continue, he said after a meeting with parents of students. State secretary Dekker announced today they will no longer fund the school, starting November 1st, which means the school will have to close her doors. Ayhan Tonca wants to go ahead with another board, initially with an interim administration and under a different name, he told the NOS. He wants to have clarity on a new course within two weeks. He hopes that under those circumstances the Ministry will once again fund Islāmic secondary education. In the long run they should be an Islāmic school that meets all requirements. The study of the Inspectorate indicates there are sufficient grounds to proceed. It is clear from the report there has already been much improvement.
Sherpa, Ruud Zwart
Wikimedia commons The report of the Education Inspectorate Rotterdam also reprimanded the town, partly because of the poor quality of the school buildings. The municipality housed Ibn Ghaldoun in buildings of such poor quality, they were already abandoned by other schools. The inspection found that the buildings are in such poor shape, they don't even meet the minimum quality requirement for good education. This criticism is justified, admits De Jonge. There are discussions with the school board about it and it needs to be resolved quickly. Whether there will also be new and better premises available around autumn, the education alderman could not say. Chairman Tonca of Ibn Ghaldoun wants to continue, he said after a meeting with parents of students. State secretary Dekker announced today they will no longer fund the school, starting November 1st, which means the school will have to close her doors. Ayhan Tonca wants to go ahead with another board, initially with an interim administration and under a different name, he told the NOS. He wants to have clarity on a new course within two weeks. He hopes that under those circumstances the Ministry will once again fund Islāmic secondary education. In the long run they should be an Islāmic school that meets all requirements. The study of the Inspectorate indicates there are sufficient grounds to proceed. It is clear from the report there has already been much improvement.
