Uganda: Islamic schools get 10,000 textbooks

After 43 years of teaching by improvisation, the Al-Muntada Al-Islami Riyadh, a Saudi Arabia-based NGO, has donated textbooks worth Shs 100m to schools that teach both Islam and the secular curriculum.

The books were delivered to the Uganda Qur’an Schools Association (UQSA) head offices in Kampala on March 26. Receiving the donation, Sheikh Ahmad Yahaya Lukwago, the UQSA chairman, said this was a relief for teachers, who have been relying on borrowed, old and improvised teaching materials.

«We are very happy for this gesture. We have received over 10,000 copies and 230 schools will receive the books out of the 455 Islamic schools in the country,» Sheikh Lukwago said.

«Primary schools will each get 37 books, secondary schools [O-level] 120 books, and A-level 314 books.»

Lukwago added that they would organise seminars to guide primary school teachers on how to use the textbooks, written in Arabic, since these ones had not come with teaching guides.

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The Saudi Arabia NGO is also planning to train 20 teachers, 20 directors of studies and 40 head teachers on how to teach Islam and on managerial issues. The training is expected to be held during the school holidays, with those completing the training receiving diplomas after the two-year course.

Sheikh Yusuf Byekwaso, one of the founding members of the association and chief guest at the event, noted that they had tried to write some books but lacked resources to publish them.

He charged the teachers to guard the books jealously.

«Those who have not got books should feel free to borrow from their colleagues, but under strict supervision. Record whoever has borrowed your book because you will be held accountable in case it gets lost,» Byekwaso said.

One of the teachers, Hussein Muhammad Nsimbe of City Side Islamic Junior School in Bujuuko, was pleased by the gesture.

«I have been borrowing from Katangawuzi Nansana Islamic PS and disturbing them all the time, but I’m now saying goodbye to them,» Nsimbe happily said.

 Sheikh Lukwago later asked for more well-wishers to support the schools with more copies, to ease the teaching of Islam. He also said that they needed 5,000 more Islamic teachers, noting that remunerating them was the biggest challenge since all the Islamic schools are «100 per cent» private.

According to Lukwago, more schools are needed in areas like Karamoja, which has only two Islamic schools, and in the Acholi sub-region.

Islamic schools in Uganda teach examinable subjects from primary level through secondary. For instance, subjects examined at primary level on the Islamic curriculum are Islamic ethics, Islamic history and traditions (Tarubiya), Islamic Jurisprudence (Fikihi), memorization and learning the teachings of Qur’an, (Qur’an) and Arabic language (Lughatul Arabiya).

Lukwago asked teachers, who don’t follow the syllabus, to join the association and be mentored on how to teach Islam.

Fuente de la noticia:http://www.observer.ug/education/43453-islamic-schools-get-10-000-textbooks

Fuente de la imagen:http://www.observer.ug/images/Islamic-books-donation.jpg