ISLAMIC EDUCATION

In 2014 we started out with approximately 150 learners. High school students made up about 20% of the learner populace. Classes were grouped from Class (Grade) R to class 10. The Syllabus used was the Jamiat Syllabus. Subjects taught ranged from Quranic Reading, Quran Memorisation, Duas, Fiqh, Aqaaid, Aadab-wal-Akhlaaq, Islamic History, Tafseer and Ahadeeth. Inspectors from the Jamiat would visit the madressah during June and November to assess the students in Quran Reading, Quran Memorisation and Duas.

The staff consisted of five female teachers, the principal, the administrator and the general cleaner. Teachers were allocated two to three levels of teaching in one class. This operating model was clearly not optimal and was reviewed. In 2016 a new reporting structure was introduced for better management and tasking. The principal was allocated two senior teachers to act as Head of Department (HOD’s). An HOD for the senior phase and an HOD for the junior phase.

Parental involvement with the Madrassah is not functioning as anticipated because there is very little parental accountability. Communication is via one-on-one contact, parent meetings, whatsapp forums, sms’ and newsletters. Parental involvement is critical to ensure quality and a functional teaching experience is delivered to the learners.

Currently the earner populace is 130. The approximately 80% of the learners are in the junior phase (primary school). A Hifz class was established; currently there are 12 learners. It is anticipated that some of these learners will be used during Ramadaan. The objective of the Hifz School is to ensure that the NJM produce a constant flow of gufaaths from the community and in particular the NJM.

A two-year teacher development programme has been designed to assist teachers to become more proficient in Arabic and Quran teaching with emphasis on Tajweed and Fiqh. At the end of the programme teachers will be certified.

The revised education programme is deemed as critical to the Islamic revival of the community and it is imperative that we work as a collective to ensure we provide a functional Islamic education to all the learners, to ensure they become critical thinking Muslim scholars.

PRE SCHOOL - PROVIDING EDUCARE OR EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES

One of the NJM’s primary focus areas is education and learning. The pre-school was established in the 1990’s, with the primary objective to assist working parents with their children’s early childhood (learner development). In subsequent years the school closed, however over for the last three years, since 2014 it was resuscitated as part of the strategic intend of the NJM Leadership to create an overall, holistic education programme that starts with the toddles and end up with adults.

The Pre-School currently cater for 35 toddlers (including four babies). The centre by a staff complement of three teachers and two support staff. They run a fully-fledged service including lunches and aftercare. The community is paying a minimal monthly fee to ensure sustainability. The teachers are experienced and use an approved Early Childhood Development (ECD) syllabus. The institute is growing and we anticipate it growing from strength-to-strength.