First annual conference on Islamic Teachers Training held in UK

Rasa – The first annual conference on Islamic Teachers Training was held recently at the Islamic Centre of England.

News ID: 2446

Date: 03 May 2015 - 19:02

RNA – The Islamic Centre of England has launched the first ever course of study in Islamic Teachers Training (ITT) in London, United Kingdom on April 25, 2015.

The ITT course gave an introduction to the principles, aims and objectives set out by the unique and sacred Islamic teaching philosophy.

The conference was attended by a large number of trainers, teachers, students of Islamic schools and parents from various cities in the United Kingdom including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Luton and other cities on the outskirts of London.

This conference was the first of its kind and gathered more than 11 Islamic schools, with 250 students and 100 teachers and 300 of their family members from different parts of the United Kingdom, under the umbrella of the MSEN (Muslim School Education Network).

At this conference, students from each of the various schools in attendance wore their school uniforms and performed religious songs, presentations and recitations of the Holy Quran.

The Islamic Teachers Training course was held in two sessions – one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

During the morning session, Mr. Azhar delivered a speech wherein he explained the goals and mission of the course. Explaining the direct relationship between the schools and the revered scholars and sources of emulation, Azhar stated that the most important aims of this course are to take advantage of the true Islamic educational and cultural guidance in the education and training of specialists and familiarizing Muslims families with the importance of religious education during childhood and youth.

He emphasized that the main focus of the course will be on raising the level of teaching and religious training so that the benefits of these services can be felt, even by non-Muslims. He expressed hope that in the future more Islamic schools will participate in this course.

Another speaker at the annual conference was Hujjat al-Islam Isa Jahangir. He pointed out that the foundation of this course is to focus on the current needs of the Muslim community so the course focuses on the fundamentals of Islamic education and is directly based on Islamic sources and the teachings of the Ahlul-Bayt.

In the afternoon, Hujjat al-Islam Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the UK and head of the Islamic Centre of England, outlined the main goals of education in Islam. He explained that graduate schools, seminaries and universities all need people to be thoughtful and wise. He added that wisdom has multiple symptoms including willingness to listen to different views and to ultimately choose the best view.

Dr Shomali emphasized the necessity of respectful dialogue and tolerance for all, even those with whom we have spiritual and emotional differences. He also added that educational programs and activities must emphasize prayer and charity to needy people. “If our students participating in training programs need to be reminded to attend the prayers, the program has not been successful. If our students are indifferent to the suffering of the poor, the educational program has failed,” he said.

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