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 2444 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 across three campuses.[1] All MFIS students (and 80% of the staff) are Muslim.[1]
History[edit]
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 million 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[edit]
The school's main campus in Greenacre includes 1070 students in the primary school (Kindergarten to Year 6) and 990 students in the secondary school (Years 7 to 12).[1]
The Hoxton Park campus opened in April 2011 for 78 students in Kindergarten and Years 1 and 2 as well as 4 staff. [6] In 2013 the campus has 87 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.
Curriculum[edit]
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]
Controversies[edit]
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 received $5.2 million from Malek Fahd Islamic 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 Malek Fahd Islamic School to the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.[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]
See also[edit]
- Education in Australia
- List of non-government schools in New South Wales
- List of Islamic schools in New South Wales
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Malek Fahd Islamic School (2013). School Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Sydney: Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ a b Barrett, Rebecca; Branley, Alison (1 November 2013). "NSW school inspectors recommend closure of Australia's largest Muslim school". ABC News. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ Burke, Kelly (16 March 2004). "And the winner is: how private schools get paid". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Malek Fahd Secondary School". Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ a b Tovey, Josephine (11 December 2013). "Malek Fahd Islamic School wins reprieve". Syndey Morning Herald. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ a b Malek Fahd Islamic School (2011). School Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Sydney: Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ "Malek Fahd Hoxton Park Campus". Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ "Malek Fahd Beaumont Hills Campus". Malek Fahd Islamic School. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ "School denies distorting its exam results". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ "Malek Fahd Islamic School 'fees' funding Australian Federation of Islamic Councils". The Australian. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
- ^ a b Bodkin, Peter (12 December 2013). "Greenacre's Malek Fahd Islamic School facing new showdown over excessive student numbers". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ Silma Ihram (12 August 2012). "AFIC, Islamic Schools and ethics". Muslim Village. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
- ^ 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.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
