Chairman of Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue, Dr. Ibrahim Salih Al Naeemi has said that technology has to be utilised at its maximum in religious education. He was inaugurating ILeaf online Madrassa, via video conference, at a programme conducted at Hilite Business Park, Kozhikode. “Giant leap in the field of technology has brought about drastic changes in the world. Technological experiments have to be extended to pedagogical and valuation system. Let us hope, those who had not had a chance for religious education and expatriates are to benefit ILeaf,” he said.
“Religious education sector has not addressed the new lifeworld as it deserves. Leaders among the Muslim community are bound to execute changes by realising the depth of knowledge explosion and aptitudes of new generation,” he said.
He also expressed hope that ILeaf can carry on the religious education system across Kerala which acclaims legacy of several centuries.
Students can register in www.ileafsuite.com. Project Coordinator Shamir Babu Vallapuzha announced that pilot classes of Online Madrassa will start on 23 September 2017.
Society has undergone large changes in the modern age. Bearing these changes, reformations are to take place in religious education system too. It will not be fair for religious education system to advance while keeping distance from the new age media and technology. Failure of Madrassa timing to be in conformation with school timing also tends people to turn away from religious education. There is a lack of proper system to address the need of those who had not a chance for religious education in their youth and expatriate community. Hence, a generation has grown here, who is ignorant of even basic teachings of Islam.
As time goes, we are witnessing change in language, imagination and habits. Children of tender age manage computer, internet and smart gadgets at ease. A life of migration and novelties urges us to bring about experiments in Madrasa education. Idea of Online Madrasa was conceived as a solution for aforesaid problems. Online Madrasa project is jointly executed by Majlis Education Board and A25.
Courses are designed in eight levels from primary to secondary level. Study material has been made as much attractive by including animations, games, quizzes, audio-video tools and others. Syllabuses based on Islamic scholarship are prepared without any bias. Material used in Online Madrasa is prepared by Islamic scholars, linguistics and teachers. Each class will have many divisions, each of which has maximum strength of 30. Each division will have its own tutors. Admission process is easy. Students’ presence, lessons and activities are recorded using username and password. Parents will be provided with separate login id to access performance of their wards. They will have special system to analyse the level of learning of their wards and arrangements for meeting with teachers. Assignments, online seminars, discussions, etc. also will be held along with systematic learning to enhance the abilities of the students.
‘Islamic Practice Check Log’ system to ensure punctuality of prayers and rituals, tutorials in English and Malayalam are features to cite. Students can assess themselves the progress. Course certificates will be provided for those who successfully complete internal assessment and public examination.
Kerala Waqf Board Chairman Syed Rasheed Ali Shihab Thangal was chief guest. Jamaat-e-Islami State Amir M.I. Abdul Azeez announced title of the project. Release of Wise Kids, English textbooks, was performed by Dr. Mohammed Yusuf Nadwi. ILeaf website was released by Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant State Amir Sheikh Mohammed Karakunnu and theme song was released by Women’s wing state president Safiyya Ali. Jamaat-e-Islami state secretary Shihab Pookkottur, Solidarity state president T. Shakir, SIO state president C.T. Suhaib, GIO state president Afida Ahmed, Dr. Omer O. Thasnim, Taj Aluva, Imthiyaz Kaviyur and others spoke. Sushir Hassan, Majlis Education Board Director, delivered welcome note and S. Kamaruddin proposed vote of thanks.