.... There's no doubting that the Manara academy is a most unusual educational institution. But it's also part of a national trend. Although the number of Islamic schools is still small – around 140 at the latest count, just 12 of them state-funded – it is growing fast.
About 60 of these schools have opened in the last 10 years; several in the last couple of months. And the demand from parents seems to be huge – one school in Birmingham recently attracted 1,500 applications for just 60 places. At least five Islamic schools have recently applied to be free schools, although so far only one has been approved.
[A COMMENT] As a Muslim living in Britain, I think this is a very VERY VERY bad idea! I mean c'mon let your children decide on their own ! there is nothing wrong with the mainstream. Unfortunately This makes me sound like the fascist, racist, populist and above all backwards tabloids that chastises me everyday with a daily anti-Muslim article .... [guardian.co.uk] Read more
