The World Federation Madrasah Centre of Excellence
Consultation Program – 9th February 2014 – Dar-es-Salaam
The Africa Federation Tabligh Board (AFTAB) had an opportunity to host a Consultation Program of the Madrasah Centre of Excellence in Dar-es-Salaam on Sunday 9th February 2014 which was attended by 54 persons from 11 Jamaats in Africa who are involved in the Madaris of their Jamaats.
The Madrasah Centre of Excellence (MCE) was launched following the 2011 Dubai Retreat and the adoption of the Resolution at the World Federation Conference held in Dar-es-Salaam in May 2011.
The Program was attended by the President of the World Federation Dr. Asgar Moledina, the Africa Federation Chairman Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi and his office bearers, the AFTAB Chairman and his Committee members.
Alhaj Naushad Mehrali of Birmingham, UK heads the MCE team and the Chairman of AFTAB Seyed Hassan Naqvi was appointed to the Board as a member from Africa Federation.
The MCE Curriculum Development Team includes:
- Shaykh Safdar Jaffer (Head)
- Br Aly Nasser (Project Coordinator)
- Syed Mohammad Rizvi (Team Consultant)
- Dr Bashir Datoo (Team Consultant)
- Shaykh Khalil Jaffer (Team Consultant)
- Shaykh Jaffer Jaffer (Team Consultant)
The MCE’s curriculum development team has prepared a curriculum framework which has been distributed to all Jamaats in Africa ahead of the MCE workshop; this was produced after a detailed review of the major curricula currently used by Madaris globally and following a lengthy process of consultation and consensus with religious scholars, academicians and Madrasah teachers. It covers all the areas outlined below such as:
- The purpose and aims of Madrasah curriculum
- Learning areas
- Approaches to teaching and learning
- Guiding principles
- Methodology of preparing the curriculum
- Conceptual framework
- Modules
- Sample lesson plans
- Implementation
- Monitoring and Evaluation
The purpose of the Consultation Program, which was facilitated by the Curriculum Development team, were in threefold:
- To discuss the framework in detail and deal with any queries
- To obtain in-depth feedback from the attendees
- To agree on the next steps
The Full day session which was held at the KSI Jamaat Dar-es-Salaam Imambargha included:
- Recitation and reflection from the Holy Qur’an on different verses applicable to the Curriculum Development
- An introduction to the Madrasah Centre of Excellence (MCE)
- Curriculum Development: The journey so far
- Guiding principles for a Madrasah Curriculum Framework
- Overview of the MCE Curriculum Framework model
- Rationale for the Integrated approach to Madrasah education
- An overview of the themes and subthemes of the Curriculum Framework
- Presentation of Demo Lessons to demonstrate the integrated approach
- Planning the transition and implementation of the MCE Curriculum
- Next steps for Curriculum Development and piloting of the integrated approach
The MCE’s curriculum development team will finally produce lesson plans and learning resources to support the curriculum which is expected to be ready by end of 2015 Insha’allah.
We pray for the success of the MCE Curriculum Development team that has ventured on this noble cause for the benefit of our present and coming generation thus nurturing piety in the young souls and helping them achieve closeness to the Almighty.
The AFTAB Chairman and Board members wish to record its appreciation to the MCE team, the World Federation and Africa Federation for their support, the Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat Managing Committee for providing facilities for the event, members of the Development Society of the Dsm Jamaat for their services in the organization of the Program and all the participants for attending the Program.
Africa Federation Tabligh Board Secretariat