Stakeholders have advocated improved standard at various muslim primary and secondary schools in Ondo State to compete favourably with their counterparts across the world and in term of Islamic teachings.
This submission was made at a seminar on integration of knowledge for members of Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS) in the State organised by International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) SouthWest and held in Akure.
The well attended programme had in attendance proprietors, proprietress and teachers from AMIS in the state.
Sensitizing the participants, the Secretary of IIIT, Prof. Ismail Musa, said the loss of glory of Muslims in education system as leaders was due to prevalent western education system,which has caused the myriad of problems facing Muslims.
This,he said that led to the emergence of Islamization of knowledge as a concept spanned a period of ten years between 1972 and 1982 when the concerned muslim intelligentsia held meeting and conferences to rub minds and exchange ideas towards identification of the cause of under development, poverty and illiteracy among others that enveloped the muslim communities.
The don added that the concerned Muslims intelligentsia resolved that the only way out of the muslims’ predicaments was to reform the called western education system.
While charging the participants on need to base their teaching methodology in accordance with the will of Allah, Prof. Musa called on them to give back to the institute through their endowed God given knowledge and research.
“On integration of knowledge across disciplines ,we should not see ourselves as consumers of knowledge but producers of knowledge
” We need to guide the learning of young ones so as not to jeopardize the knowledge Allah given to them.
“Our focus must be how to make Muslims schools attractive to non Muslims base on excellence” he stated
On his part, the Coordinator of Head, Research and Publications of the institute, Prof. Muritala Bidmos, charged participants in their different field of principles to use their knowledges in finding solution to challenges facing muslim communities (ummah) as directed by the Prophet Muhammed.
Delivering his paper titled ‘Integrated Knowledge At A Glance :Concept and Implementation Strategies’ the don called for the need to integrate knowledge to solve problems facing muslim education system.
Prof. Bidmos , who noted the wrong ways of doing things in the Nigeria as solutions to the problems facing the country implored the participants to give their children and students sound education that will make them to do things in right manner for the betterment of society.
He urged them to emulate architects of islamization of knowledge in diverse disciplines ranging from the humanities to commerce and the sciences.
According to him, “rationale for integrated knowledge,western education is not condemned on religious vendetta or social prejudice but as a result of havoc it wreaks on the muslim communities ,which include rejection of revelation”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, IIIT, Ondo State, Prof. Ishiaq Amoo, who said that the primary assignment of Muslims on earth is to worship Allah, noted that establishment of schools for acquiring knowledge is part of the assignment.
Amoo pointed out that it is compulsory on muslim to imbibe the injunction and principle of Islam laid down by the prophet in their daily activity for them to succeed here and hereafter.
