Private Islamic schools in Canada

Private Islamic schools are religious-affiliated or faith-based schools, associated with the religion of Islam. There are many private Islamic schools in Canada, including in Toronto (and the GTA), Mississauga, Brampton, and Scarborough. While each has its own focus and approach, they’re united in their aim to provide students with a strong Islamic education, and to instill in them traditional Islamic beliefs.

Islamic schools don’t require students to be Muslim. In practice, though, most of their students are Muslim, and they’re expected to participate in religious practices during school.

Some Islamic or Muslim schools focus specifically on teaching Arabic or Persian. These schools don't teach any other secular or non-secular subjects. These Arabic-Islamic schools normally are afterschool or weekend programs. They offer classes for kids of different ages, anywhere from once to several times a week.

School curriculum
Islamic schools, like other private religious-affiliated schools, have a dual-track curriculum. They focus on both secular academics and religious studies while providing a balanced education for their students.

Secular curriculum: Islamic schools provide a strong secular education. Dedicated instructors teach subjects such as math, science, English, French, and history, in a rigorous and engaging manner. These subjects are typically taught on their own, as part of a segregated curriculum. Sometimes, though, they’re integrated with the religious curriculum. For instance, they might be taught in an Islamic context, as part of an overall integrated curriculum.

Most Islamic schools don’t offer music or dance. Some more traditional schools don’t offer drama either. Otherwise, they teach all other core secular subjects.

Religious curriculum: The religious curriculum in private Islamic schools is meant to give students a solid foundation in the Muslim religion (or religion of Islam). Students closely study the Quran. By examining the Quran, students learn about Islamic law, and apply its lessons to real life. Some students even memorize this holy Muslim text or large portions of it.

Islamic studies also focus on monotheism, the tenet that there’s one and only one all-powerful God. They teach the attributes of this God, and the connection between God and Islamic law.

Sometimes students also learn about the Muslim religion through stories. These may be stories about prophets or other important figures. And, in many schools, students learn about the history of Islam and muslim culture.

In almost all Islamic schools, Arabic is a required subject. This can be very challenging, especially since it uses a different alphabet and script than English, French, and other Romance languages.

That said, many students find this very engaging and rewarding. Learning a second language can also have enormous benefits. For instance, it can lead to improved literacy skills and a deeper understanding of certain dimensions of language, such as grammar. Most students don’t become fluent in Arabic, though.

Muslim prayer
In most Islamic schools in Canada, especially more traditional ones, students pray, either in a mosque (which may be on school grounds) or in school. There are five daily Muslim prayers. Students often pray once or twice a day at school, and are asked to complete the remaining prayers at home.

Students participate in Islamic holidays, such as Ramadan. During this holiday, some students may be required to fast from dawn to sunset. Most schools also have other dietary restrictions. Students aren’t allowed to eat pork, and they’re forbidden to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes at school. They’re also strongly encouraged to follow these rules at home.

Many Islamic schools have rules about attire or dress. Girls may be required to cover their heads and to wear long clothing, such as dresses. They may also be asked to avoid wearing jewellery (at least that’s visible). Boys may be asked to wear long pants.

Islamic beliefs and values
Islamic schools instill in students traditional Islamic values—the values codified in the Quran. These values include honour, trust, honesty, and justice. Students are also taught proper manners, including how to conduct oneself, and how to act towards one’s neighbours, as indicated by Islamic law.

Private Islamic schools in Canada have lots of potential benefits. We discuss some of the main ones below.

Strong academics: A dual-track curriculum can be very beneficial. Many students find it challenging and rewarding to study both religion (the religion of Islam) and secular subjects. This is especially true when students are also required to learn a new language—Arabic.

Islamic identity: There’s lots of focus on helping students build and cultivate their Islamic identity. Students learn about Islamic traditions and beliefs. This can help students understand their religion and heritage.

Islamic Community: Students learn and interact with peers with similar backgrounds, interests, and values. This helps them form close relationships, and feel part of a community.

Language learning: Islamic schools usually require students to study Arabic. Research has shown that learning a second language can have great cognitive benefits (such as improved overall literacy skills) and academic benefits (such as doing well in school, and receiving higher grades in many subjects).

General private school benefits: Private Islamic schools have many of the same benefits of private schools in general. They tend to have smaller classes, lower teacher-to-student ratios, more specialized instruction, more dedicated teachers, and many other advantages over public schools.

Low cost: Many Islamic schools are quite cheap, in comparison with other private schools. The tuition for some of these schools is as low as $3000 a year. Some schools also offer bursaries and a sliding scale. And, like other private religious-affiliated schools, it may be possible to claim a tax credit for tuition as a charitable contribution (if the school is registered as a charity or associated with a charity).

There are some questions commonly asked about private Islamic schools. Some of these have already been answered, and so won’t be addressed here. We’ll only answer those that haven’t yet been answered or fully answered.

How do I know if a private Islamic school is the right fit for my child?
You need to look for a good match between your child and the school in terms of religion, academics, culture, values, and the like. Keep in mind that each school has a different curricular approach, level of religious observance, philosophy, and orientation.

How much is tuition?
This varies, just as it does for all types of private schools. Some schools’ annual tuition is as low as $3,000. And, many Islamic schools offer subsidies, tax credits, and sliding scales to defray costs.

Are private Islamic schools accredited?
High schools must meet provincial curricular requirements in order to award provincial high school graduation diplomas. Some private Islamic schools are accredited by independent institutions, such as the Council of Islamic Schools in North America (CISNA).

What kind of training should teachers have?
This varies based on the school and the subjects taught. Ideally, teachers will have undergraduate degrees specializing in the subjects they’re teaching. A diploma from the Ontario Teacher’s College, or another provincial teacher’s college, and specialized training in education are also big bonuses.