Despite discrimination in mainstream Canadian society, local Muslim communities are a significant resource for immigrants. Recruited by friendship and kin networks, some families chose to educate their children in private full-time Muslim schools which provide academic/economic credentials and social support. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, this research depicts a Muslim school in Montreal which both reflects Quebec society and nurtures minority ethnic/religious identity. For many parents, Arabic language classes, academic standards, and behavioral norms were as important as the school's religious affiliation. Rejecting the hypothesis that emphasizing religious and cultural identities distanced children from mainstream society, some felt that the psychological and social effects of affirming a child's background were vital to integration and participation in mainstream society. In addition, the school also provided entry into social networks which offered parents an important support system.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1994.

M.A. / Teaching in institutions have come under the spotlight, as a result of inadequate teaching, learning and assessment strategies. Some of the most critical remarks that were made against teaching in institutes of higher education is that that the traditional methods of direct instruction are ineffective in developing learners’ critical thinking powers and problem-solving abilities. Alternative methods of teaching, learning and assessment should be taken into consideration, rather than teaching. The question that arises is whether the Dâr ’al ‘Ulûm, which is also an institute of higher education, are aware of these arguments and whether it strives to implement effective teaching, learning and assessment strategies. In this study the researcher concentrates on the development of criteria for effective teaching, learning and assessment. These criteria are developed by firstly conducting a literature review and then by evaluating the strategies of teaching and assessment in a Dâr ’al ‘Ulûm, to these criteria. The research methodology of this study consist of a qualitative component and it includes observations of the teaching methods in the classroom, document analysis and interviews with the teachers. The aim of the different data gathering methods is to determine the trustworthiness of the data. The same results were achieved each time the data provided was analysed. Furthermore, the consistency of interpreting and analysing the data was also addressed by returning the findings of this study to an external decoder. The empirical research results indicated that this Dâr ’al ‘Ulûm did not meet the criteria that was developed, and that this Dâr ’al ‘Ulûm relies heavily on the traditional method of direct instruction. The Dâr ’al ‘Ulûm is an institute that develops the minds, the values and the attitudes of ‘Ulamâ’. Knowledge, values and attitudes are shaped in this institute. Appropriate teaching and learning strategies are vital for quality education. Research has pointed out that an outcomes-based approach is more effective than the traditional direct instruction approach. It remains the responsibility of the Diyâr ‘al ’Ulûm to ensure that the teachers are trained in teaching skills that will promote effective learning.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1994. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [403]-432).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Köln, 2005.

No description available.

Teachers and parents make considerable sacrifices to affiliate themselves with Islamic schools. As they commit to Islamic education, they acquire certain expectations that they want their school to fulfill. The purpose of this study was to explore the academic, social, and cultural expectations of five teachers and five parents in an Islamic School on the West Coast in order understand how these expectations could be fulfilled in other Islamic schools across the United States. The main research questions of this study were: What are the academic, social, and cultural expectations that parents and teachers have of their Islamic schools? To what extent are Islamic schools meeting the expectations of parents and teachers? Qualitative, phenomenological research methods were used for the design of this study along with a purposeful sampling of teachers and parents, triangulation of data sources, and a thorough coding process. Findings from the study supported that teachers and parents expected children to be knowledgeable about Islam in its broadest and deepest interpretations. Additionally, teachers and parents expected children to apply their knowledge of Islam in their everyday lives. Lastly, the degree that expectations were met depended on the support that teachers and parents received from their school community. When teachers and parents felt encouraged by school stakeholders, their expectations were generally fulfilled. Conversely, when teachers and parents felt that their needs were overlooked by school stakeholders, their expectations tended to remain unmet. Conclusions from the study explored ways to bridge the gap between met and unmet expectations of teachers and parents. Implications invited teachers and parents to move beyond expectations toward transformative educational experiences for children in Islamic schools.