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| Arabia |
| UAE foreign community school accused of encouraging anti-Islamic values |
| 2004-06-03 |
| A foreign community school in the capital is believed to be encouraging anti-Islamic values within the campus. According to an informed source, students and staff at the school are being given unbridled freedom to violate the basic social norms and ethics of the country. Speaking to Khaleej Times, the source said there have been complaints that the schoolchildren were neither being disciplined nor controlled. "Even teenage boys and girls in the higher classes are given unrestricted freedom to mingle with each other, resulting in some immoral and shameless incidents," the source said. "The students get physical, much to the chagrin of some of the teachers. There were instances when proofs were found to be indulging in adult behaviour. The elder boys and girls are being put in the same swimming pool even though parents of many girl students have protested against this," the source said. It’s also alleged that the principal and the staff members openly flout their anti-Islamic views at staff meetings by passing rude jokes about the religion and condemning the Arabic language. "The Muslim teachers are treated with contempt by students and staff alike and are not allowed to wear hijabs. The students who wear Hijab are also victimised as they are made fun of and embarrassed. The physical education teacher refuses to teach those students who wear Hijabs and girls are forced to oblige him." It is also alleged that the study of Arabic is wilfully neglected as the principal himself allows the students to bunk the class and small children are sent two floor upstairs for their Arabic lessons, which is again a breach of the law. The teachers are also criticised for bringing alcohol to the staff parties and meetings conducted within the campus. "These things would be allowed in your home country. But when you are functioning in an Islamic country, you have to give due respect to the religion, customs and traditions of your host country," the source said. It has also been pointed out that the school is entertaining teachers who don’t have the needed qualification to teach particular subjects. According to the source, the school has also decided to terminate the services of some well-qualified teachers, simply due to racial prejudice. A written complaint to this effect has been already submitted to The Ministry of Education and Youth. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #2 I spent quite some times in UAE (dubai)and would be sad to see it goes the way of the saudis. I d consider dubai an oasis of relative freedom(not politicaly of course), in that region. |
| Posted by: Anonymous5098 2004-06-03 2:49:01 PM |
| #1 Girls and boys mingling? The horror of it all! Why do muslim kids have to attend an International school? I thought Islam provided for a superior education. After all, everything from Geology to Anatomy is spelled out in the koran. Saudi Arabia solved the problem of Infidel contamination, by only allowing Saudis to go to an International or the American school for Kindergarten. After that, they have to go to Saudi schools. There are quite a few non-saudi muslims attending the American school but except for Ramadan when the infidel kids cannot eat outside (playground), they (muslim kids) do not complain too much about our depraved ways. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-06-03 2:30:26 PM |