The Islamic Schools of Victoria

Al-Taqwa College

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Location
Truganina, Victoria
Australia
Coordinates 37°51′14″S 144°43′19″E / 37.85389°S 144.72194°ECoordinates: 37°51′14″S 144°43′19″E / 37.85389°S 144.72194°E
Information
Type Independent school
Denomination Sunni Islam
Principal Mr.Omar Hallak
Enrolment ~1780 (P-12) <
Number of students 2000
Colour(s) Blue, Red, White               
Slogan Quality Education For Quality Life
Website
http://www.al-taqwa.vic.edu.au

The Islamic Schools of Victoria, or otherwise known as Al-Taqwa College, is a primary and secondary school located on Sayers Rd, Truganina, Victoria, outside Melbourne, Australia. The college is also known as Werribee College.[1]

When the school was first established, classes were ranged from Prep to Year 10. But as the school grew it expanded and added on VCE (Years 11 and 12). The school made a branch in Indonesia, with the same name, Al Taqwa College International Islamic School of Indonesia. The school has another branch called the olive branch, which runs occasional classes in Agriculture and Horticulture.[2]

The number of students at Al-Taqwa College are now (2015) close to 2000 with numbers expected to reach 2500 students in 2018. Students Learn subjects ranging from English, Math, L.O.T.E, Information Technology, Business, Art & Physical Education.[3]

Students at Al-Taqwa College come from many different backgrounds,ethnicities and cultures. The school's foundation is strongly based upon ethos of equality, equity and cohesive unity. Families of students migrated from the following countries:

The College was built on 50 Acres property on the Western side of Melbourne. The College was established by the Islamic Trust fund in 1986. The name was changed to Al-taqwa College in 2010. Next to the main Campus on Sayers Road, a Mosque was built.[4] Al-taqwa College is a member of Independent Schools Victoria. Independent Schools Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to Independent education.[5]

In the Media there have been many fabricated articles written about the school. Including the number of issues at the school, in 2005 a libel was written in order to defame Mr. Hallak and several of the staff members. The defamatory statements made throughout the Media raised community concerns. However yet again the Age's source content was appallingly never founded on fact and rather displayed false particularities in its content.[6]

A former teacher who was fired from the school for inappropriate misconduct with students, said that the college principal had anti-Semitic views and another teacher said that non-Muslim teachers were treated as "second-class citizens".[7] These prevarications were done to provoke the school by using methods of ethnocentrism [8] and isolation.

The principal is a strong advocate against terrorism and said "Terrorism has no place in Islam". In March 2015, the principal of the college told students not to join Islamic State.[9] The spokesman for the Islamic Council of Victoria said they did not support the comments regarding the terror group. The school's principal went on to say that 'We don't believe Muslims are creating ISIS' However a journalist distorted the Principals words: [10] The principal's comments were called, "reckless and dangerous if true" by James Merlino, Victoria's Education Minister.[11]

The school's history with negative media bias portrayed deep rooted Islamophobia & xenophobia throughout the community. The Age’s numerous prejudiced articles took many of the principals words out of context to form falsified allegations against him and the School. Media sensationalized previous students statements and tried to build a repertoire against the school. However the school's principal denied claims regarding possible injury for girls, if they run. [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Education provider details". State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training). Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "History of Altaqwa College". Altaqwa College Islamic School of Victoria. Retrieved 3 October 2006.
  3. ↑ "Female Sports at Al-Taqwa College". Al Taqwa Battles Against Resentment. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Masjid Activities". Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  5. ↑ https://www.is.vic.edu.au/
  6. ↑ Skelton, Russell (31 July 2005). "Muslims sound alarm over schools". The Age. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Cook, Henrietta (1 April 2014). "Christopher Pyne asks Al-Taqwa principal to explain himself after Islamic State comments". Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Examples of Ethnocentrism". Your Dictionary. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Adl-Tabatabai, Sean. "Theory Of IS". Your News Wire. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Principal of Melbourne Islamic school tells his students terror group is a conspiracy created by Israel and Western countries
  11. ↑ Szego, Julie (26 March 2015). "The dangers of feeding lies to Muslim children". The Age. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Melissa Meehan & Angus Livingston (23 April 2015). "Principal denies Claims". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 23 April 2015.

External links