In the UK, 200,000 Muslim students attend a Madrasah after school each day where they learn about and discuss the practices of their religion. We reveal typical teaching and learning situations filmed in two Birmingham Madrasahs - the Zawiya Madrasah, located in an Islamic centre, and Madrasah Salafiyah, based in the more traditional mosque setting. On average the children spend two hours at Madrasah learning Arabic and Islamic studies. Pupils are taught to write Arabic as well as read it--many of them taking it in their stride because they already speak at least two languages. Madrasah teachers endeavour to link the curriculum to children's needs and interests. They also employ storytelling, group work and other strategies to make learning at the end of a long day as enjoyable as possible. There are comments from staff, pupils and parents on the importance Madrasah education has for them.

Video Series: Islamic Education
Release Date 2009