FRANCE MUSLIM SCHOOL COLLAPSING

France’s oldest and most successful Muslim school is on the verge of collapse over financial problems. “We are collapsing under the weight of our debts,” Yvonne Fazilleau, the headteacher of Réussite (Ibn Rushd) school said. The school has debts to the tune of €300,000 and is on the brink of bankruptcy. The government approved the establishment of Réussite in July of 2003 to be the country’s first secondary Muslim school. During its short history, the school, which follows the same curriculum as state schools, became one of the most successful schools nationwide. Last year, it had a 100% success rate in baccalaureat (secondary certificate), compared with a local pass rate of 81 per cent. The school administration blames the government for not trying to lift it out of the current financial crisis. It cites the government’s refusal to give the Muslim school the state grants given to all other faith schools.