Malek Fahd Islamic School

Malek Fahd Islamic School

"Knowledge is Light, Work is Worship"
Address
405 Waterloo Road
Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, 2190
Australia
Information
School type Independent co-educational
Religious affiliation(s) Islamic
Established 1989
Staff 175
Teaching staff 151
Grades K–12
Age 5 to 18
Enrolment 2440[1] (2013)
Campuses Greenacre (main, K–12),
Hoxton Park (K–4),
Beaumont Hills (K–7)
Colour(s) Green, yellow and white
Affiliations Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
Website Official website

Malek Fahd Islamic School (MFIS), is an independent, Islamic, combined primary and secondary school, in Greenacre, New South Wales with smaller campuses in Hoxton Park and Beaumont Hills. It is the largest Islamic school in Australia,[2] catering for 3 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 across three campuses.[1]

History

Malek Fahd Islamic School was opened in October 1989 with one campus in Greenacre. The purchase of the land for the school was secured through a $12 thousand gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.[3] The school started with 87 students from kindergarten to year 3 but has grown to over 2000 students in 2013.[4] In April 2011 the school established two campuses in Hoxton Park and Beaumont Hills both catering for students in early primary school.

In June 2013 the School Board, chaired by Tom Alegounarias, appointed the school's first Christian headmaster, Dr Ray Barrett.[5]

Campuses

Greenacre campus

The school's main campus in Greenacre includes 700 students in the primary school (Kindergarten to Year 6) and 900 students in the secondary school (Years 7 to 12).[1]

The Hoxton Park campus opened in April 2011 for 8 students in Kindergarten and Years 1 and 2 as well as 1 staff. [6] In 2013 the campus has 0 students enrolled from Kindergarten to Year 4.[7][1] The campus has a modern two story building which caters for students from Hoxton Park, Liverpool, Lurnea, Hinchinbrook and Prestons.

The school also operates a campus in Beaumont Hills, opened in April 2011, for children in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2.[8][1] The campus initially started with 31 students[6] but has increased in size with over 200 students in 2012 from Kindergarten to Year 6.[1] In 2014 the school expanded to include Year 7.[1] The campus draws students from Beaumont Hills, Kellyville, Castle Hill, The Ponds, Blacktown, Seven Hills, Rooty Hill and Mt Druitt. THIS ARTICLE WAS MADE BY ANONYMOUS

Curriculum

Malek Fahd Islamic School teaches according to the NSW Board of Studies mandated syllabuses. However all students are required to study the Religious Education syllabus throughout their schooling. The school also teaches Arabic throughout schooling.[4] Arabic is also offered as a subject for students completing the Higher School Certificate in Year 11 and 12.[4]

The school also offers a number of sporting and extra curricular activities including with other schools and local organisations.[4] the school has various activities including art,music,health,english and arabic.

Controversies

In 2008 Malek Fahd Islamic School was criticised for not allowing under performing students to sit the Higher School Certificate (HSC), resulting in unfairly high HSC results reported for the school. The school denied distorting exam results.[9]

In 2010 the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) received $5.2 million from the school which is approximately one third of the money received from the federal and state governments.[10] In 2012 the NSW government demanded the repayment of $9 million passed from school to the AFIC.[11][12]

In November 2013 the school faced closure due to problems associated with its attendance-approvals, its HSC curriculum, educational quality, safe environment and its buildings.[2][11] In December 2013 the school won a reprieve,[5] with the NSW Board of Studies agreeing to a further year of registration.[13]

In November 2015 the school sought an injunction in the NSW Supreme Court to remove the governance of the AFIC.[14][15]

In February 2016 the federal government said it will revoke its $20 million funding to the school. It was reported that the "feud" between the school board and the AFIC had escalated to the point where security was required at the school for "fear it could escalate into violence".[16][17] Subsequently a phantom loan, mystery payments and undeclared conflicts of interest were identified by a federal government investigation.[18] In March 2016 the school cut its ties to the AFIC.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Malek Fahd Islamic School (2013). School Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Sydney: Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  2. 1 2 Barrett, Rebecca; Branley, Alison (1 November 2013). "NSW school inspectors recommend closure of Australia's largest Muslim school". ABC News. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  3. ↑ Burke, Kelly (16 March 2004). "And the winner is: how private schools get paid". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Malek Fahd Secondary School". Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  5. 1 2 Tovey, Josephine (11 December 2013). "Malek Fahd Islamic School wins reprieve". Syndey Morning Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  6. 1 2 Malek Fahd Islamic School (2011). School Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Sydney: Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  7. ↑ "Malek Fahd Hoxton Park Campus". Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  8. ↑ "Malek Fahd Beaumont Hills Campus". Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  9. ↑ "School denies distorting its exam results". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  10. ↑ "Malek Fahd Islamic School 'fees' funding Australian Federation of Islamic Councils". The Australian. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
  11. 1 2 Bodkin, Peter (12 December 2013). "Greenacre's Malek Fahd Islamic School facing new showdown over excessive student numbers". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  12. ↑ Silma Ihram (12 August 2012). "AFIC, Islamic Schools and ethics". Muslim Village. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
  13. ↑ Josephine Tovey (19 December 2013). "School's not out: Malek Fahd Islamic School survives as the HSC results arrive". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  14. ↑ Shanahan, Leo (30 October 2015). "Largest Muslim school Malek Fahd locks out chairman". The Australian. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Hall, Louise (3 November 2015). "Malek Fahd Islamic School crisis deepens as legal action launched". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Benson, Simon (9 February 2016). "Malek Fahd Islamic school: Government axes all Commonwealth funding". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  17. ↑ Shanahan, Leo (9 February 2016). "Islamic school Malek Fahd has $15m in funding taken away". The Australian. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  18. ↑ Safi, Michael (24 February 2016). "Malek Fahd school accused of unexplained payments to Islamic body and staff". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  19. ↑ Booth, Meredith (10 March 2016). "Schools cut ties to Federation of Islamic Councils". The Australian. Retrieved 16 March 2016.

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