How many full-time Muslim schools are there in England?
There are 126 full-time Muslim schools in England, according to the Department for Education and Skills. The vast majority (115) are independent. Just eight Muslim schools are state-funded and another three have been approved to open in the state sector. The numbers have increased in recent years. In 2003, there were 53 Muslim schools. What about other types of Muslim schools? Many children attend extra lessons after school or at the weekend to learn the Koran in Arabic and about their religion. The religious schools, which are attached to mosques, are called Madrassas. Some children go to a mosque for lessons every day after school. Ataullah Parkar, of the Association of Muslim Schools, says the schools vary greatly. “Madrassa translates as ‘a place of study’,” he said. “The main difference between Madrassas and full-time Muslim schools is that in the Madrassas, the main aim is the recitation of the Koran in Arabic. Until children are 11 or over, they hardly ever teach the meaning.” H
