Faizel Patel – 25/02/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143

Professor of philosophy of education at Stellenbosch University Dr Nuraan Davids says her ongoing concerns about Muslims schools and Muslim education involves long-term research and engagement with schools.

Davids was speaking to Radio Islam on Thursday about her article “A critical look at what’s missing from Muslim education in South Africa” which has drawn criticism from Muslims schools and Islamic institutions.

In the article, Davids writes that Muslim schooling and education in South Africa has remained unchanged in its ideas and the way it is taught.

Davids arguments were rebutted by the Secretary of the Association of Muslim Schools (AMS) Ebrahim Ansur and Abdullah Sujee from the Roshnee Islamic School who say Muslims schools are not pluralistic, they have evolved and nor do they polarise society.

Ansur and Sujee also argue that Davids article is very parochial when referring to Muslim-based schools being influenced by the historical heritage of Islam of either a predominant “Malay” or “Indian” ethos.

In the interview with Radio Islam, Davids concedes that her experience revolves around Muslim teachers in Muslims schools in her immediate area of Cape Town.

“Unless you look at the Star Schools, you at your typical Muslim based schools, you are in all likelihood only going to encounter Muslim teachers. If I were to walk into my local schools, Muslim schools in Cape Town I am not typically going to find a teacher who’s not Muslim.”

Morning drive presenter Ml Sulaimaan Ravat also reiterated that while Davids argument focused on her specific area, there are Muslim schools in the Greater Gauteng area that have a significant percentage of non-Muslim teachers, an argument echoed by Ansur and Sujee.

During the interview, Davids also categorised madrassahs and makatibs as schools, while her article only focuses on Muslim schools registered with the education department.

Ml Ravat emphasised that in most parts of the country “schools” attached to Islamic institutions are not referred to as Muslim schools but more commonly known as madrassah’s and maktab’s.

Davids denies her article paints a generalised argument and lacks evidence on Muslim schools and Islamic institutions not being diverse and equipping learners to have enough exposure in terms of engaging with different kinds of faith groups.

While Davids accuses the Muslim community of lacking constructive engagement, she failed to answer critical questions about what many have deemed a generalised argument about Muslim schools in her article.

“It is certainly my experience from this interview and certainly the kinds of comments that I’ve gotten via other sources that our Muslim community do not welcome critical engagement.”

Davids abruptly ended the interview severing any further engagement with Radio Islam and Ml Ravat.

AMS on Wednesday told Radio Islam they had not received any correspondence from Davids, adding that they will be writing a rebuttal to counter some of the arguments in her article.

Listen to the interview with Nuraan Davids