Faith School 'Surprises' Swindon Muslims

"I'm not sure that Swindon is a big enough place for this kind of school," Khan said. (Adver. Photo)

"I am very surprised about these plans," Azim Khan, chairman of the Thamesdown Islamic Association, told the local daily Swindon Advertiser on Friday, November 14.

"I am concerned that members of the Muslim community in Swindon have not been consulted."

Al-Habib Islamic Center on Thursday proposed turning a primary school in Oakhurst in northern Swindon into a faith school.

The center's chairman Shahid Sahu said that if the bid to run the school was successful, it would become a single faith school.

But Swindon Muslims showed a poor appetite for the proposed school.

"I think they should have asked people in the community before putting in their bid, to make sure the need was there," said Khan.

Khan said many areas with a bigger Muslim community need faith schools other than Swindon.

"I'm not sure that Swindon is a big enough place for this kind of school," he said.

"It works in somewhere like Birmingham, because they have a large Muslim community, but in Swindon I don't know where they would find the students and where they would find the teachers."

Britain is home to nearly two million Muslims.

There are 6,846 faith schools in the state sector in England, most of which are Church of England or Roman Catholic primary schools.

There are also 62 other Christian faith schools as well as 37 Jewish, seven Muslim and two Sikh.

Too Far

Some Swindon Muslims say that the proposed school is located in a remote area.

"I don't think I would send my children to north Swindon – a town centre location would be better," said Rokib Ali.

Ali, however, believes that establishing a faith school would be a good idea.

"In theory I think any faith school could be good, as long as it is well run."

Raj Aga, a shopkeeper, echoes a similar opinion.

"I think an Islamic faith school is a good idea but I think north Swindon is too far for people to send their children.

"I don't know much about the Al Habib centre but I would be interested to know about its plans."

No details are yet available about the admission policy and curriculum at the proposed school.

A meeting is scheduled on November 25, to discuss the center's proposal for the school.

Coun Justin Tomlinson, Swindon Council's cabinet member for leisure, culture and recreation, expects a strong opposition to the proposed faith school.

"We are 100 per cent opposed to this bid," he said.

"Their admissions policy will be linked to faith, rather than distance from school. This will potentially leave local children unable to access this much-needed new school."

British teachers have called for a ban on new faith schools in Britain, arguing such academies undermine social harmony and integration.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) had warned that British schools are failing to take into account sensitivities of the 400.000 Muslim school students in regard to religious assemblies, sex education and changing rooms.