Islamic College of South Australia board condemned by parents, imams for removing teacher
A senior group of South Australian imams has condemned the board of an Islamic school over the recent removal of a moderate Muslim teacher, alleging the board's actions were "un-Islamic".
Parents of students at the Islamic College of South Australia at Croydon today staged a boycott, keeping their children at home for the day because of concerns about school management.
Former and current students have also highlighted cultural changes at the school, with some reporting bans on girls and boys sharing corridors.
The new principal has said the school's major focus was going to be the improvement of the Islamic curriculum.
But parents have accused its board of undermining education by continually firing principals and teachers, or forcing them to resign.
The most recent case involved Islamic and Quranic studies teacher Sheikh Khalid Yousuf, who is a member of the Imams Council of South Australia.
In a strongly worded statement, the council said it was "shocked and saddened" at the situation and labelled the school's actions as "oppressive and irresponsible".
"[The council] condemns the inappropriate and illegal action that was taken ... against Sheikh Khalid Yousuf, the Islamic and Quranic studies teacher at the school," it said.
It also labelled as "un-Islamic" a suggestion "the sheikh is under investigation, an investigation which [he] has never been aware of and never been told about".
The college is one of many Islamic schools facing questions about management, with some parents pointing the finger at the group that runs them, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC).
School 'half empty' because of boycott
A group of parents went to the school today without their children to highlight the problems they had perceived at the school.
Souraya Serhan's son Raami recently found out he had been expelled via a text message from the school after he protested against the dismissal of a teacher.
"I dare say at least half [the students] are missing," she said.
"We just want basic education for our children, with no mismanagement, with people who have proper credentials to be able to run the school - no more, no less.
"The board is currently implementing policies that a lot of parents don't agree with.
"A lot of teachers that have been long-term teachers here are being replaced with new arrival teachers with less experience.
"We have had four principals in three years, which is causing utter chaos."
Former student concerned about loss of moderate role models
Emma Elhelw was the vice-captain of the school last year and said she was worried about the influence of the board on education.
"There were really nitpicky dress codes, such as the female teachers couldn't wear pants," she said.
"In regards to behavioural issues, it was no longer going to the principal, it was kind of just straight to the board."
Ms Elhelw said she was prevented from leaving a meeting with the board, which had descended into screaming, and was left fearful and upset.
But she said her earliest memories of the school are of a "safe, happy place" where young Muslims went "to learn about their faith and to learn Arabic".
"Brother Khalid ... was our religious teacher. He was such a great role model for kids because he was the perfect example of a moderate Muslim," she said.
"I left when we still had those good, moderate role models, but from what I've seen in glimpses of going back to the school for assemblies and such we don't have many examples of that ... anymore.
"You really need to have a sound Islamic teacher or Islamic role model at the school to enforce the truth of Islam and not to let people take whatever they see online and in media as what they should believe."
The Imams Council has called for the students expelled for protesting against the sheikh's removal to be allowed to return to the school.
The ABC has contacted both the school and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils but has not received a reply.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-08/islamic-school-in-crisis-as-parents-keep-kids-home/6456416
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