Apart from having a comprehensive, a practical and relevant curriculum, along with good and caring teachers, engaging teaching methods, appropriate texts and notes, with modern teaching methods, the fundamental factor in ensuring the success of any Madrasah is the Parent-Student- Teacher Partnership.
Each party to this covenant or contract operates under some unavoidable constraints. The parents may be too busy with their daily routines and/or less than fully equipped to bear the full responsibility of islamically moulding their children on their own. The teachers on the other hand have only limited time in the madrasah, in our case no more than three hours per week. It behoves all parties to attend to this commitment (amana) to impart Islamic education. Students have an arduous task of reconciling different sets of values and behaviours they observe in the schools, homes, Islamic Centers or madaris and generally around them. Thus, all the parties must work together, cooperatively, so that each helps to alleviate the constraints of the others.
The success of the Institute in enhancing Islamic knowledge and identity of its students is highly dependent upon conveying our collective expectations (that is, of the parents and teachers) to the students with clarity, consistency, conformity and in reinforcing behaviour through moulding both at home and at the Madrasah. It is very important to remember this.
Parent – Teacher Meetings
Parents are most welcome to make an appointment, at any time, to see the Administrator to discuss the learner?s progress. We do not have many parent meetings as we encourage one on one meetings. The purpose of these meetings would be to help parents understand the areas to be covered in each course, learn about their child?s academic progress, work habits, social relationships with other students, and with the staff of the Institute, and to discuss matters of general interest to all parties.
Responsibilities of the Institute Administrator
The Administrator is responsible for ensuring that the Institute operates in an orderly manner and in keeping with Islamic norms. He/she is there to guide and assist the teachers and their assistants, parents and students through the madrasah system. His / her responsibilities include:
- Formulating the overall policies and regulations of the madrasah.
- Planning and coordinating courses, teacher assignments, administrative arrangements, and all other related activities.
- Creating and maintaining an Islamic atmosphere in the madrassah and all madrasah-related activities.
- Responding to any serious disciplinary issues referred.
- Informing parents of Madrasah policies and course requirements.
- Facilitating and encouraging parent communication with the Madrasah.
- Acting as a spokesperson for the Madrasah in the community.
- To see that all fees are promptly paid
Responsibilities of the Teacher and Support Staff
Currently there are 15 teachers and their responsibilities include amongst other to motivate students to apply themselves, to educate them in the most effective manner possible, and to facilitate an overall positive Islamic environment and experience for the learners. This is an amana which teachers must carry out ardently.
Their responsibilities include:
- Attending the Institute regularly and on time, or notifying the administrator and/or arranging for a substitute in the event of an absence.
- Performing their duties with appropriate preparation, resource materials, assignments, etc.
- Maintaining an orderly classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning.
- Teaching students to strive towards self-discipline and perfection
- Encouraging good work habits that will lead to sound academic performance.
- Utilizing Teaching Assistants (TAs), where available, to organize class activities, to provide individual-level attention to students in need, to help out with assignments and their grading, and generally to groom them to become future teachers.
- Establishing an effective partnership with other staff members, students, and parents.
- Serving as appropriate role models for their students.
Responsibilities of the Students
The students or the learners are the target of all these efforts. They need to come to the Madrassah prepared with mental receptacles open to learn,
- Attending Madrassah regularly and on time.
- Wearing proper Islamic dress to the Madrasah.
- Bringing to class appropriate texts, handouts, and necessary supplies (binders, writing paper, pens/pencils, etc.).
- Participating in class discussions and activities.
- Completing all homework assignments and preparing well for exams.
- Conducting them in a courteous and responsible manner.
- Showing respect towards teachers and adults, and being helpful to fellow students.
Responsibilities of the Parents
The parents are pivotal in the success of their children acquiring Islamic education and putting it to practice. They can instill and reinforce the importance of Islamic education. Hence the Institute, in many direct and subtle ways provides an impetus for this process. Parents? level of expectation and interest in their child?s Madrasah work is contagious and easily sensed by their child/ren.
Responsibilities of the Parents Include:
- Ensuring that their child attends Madrasah regularly and on time.
- Notifying the Institute in case of a prolonged (two weeks or more) absence, and making arrangements to make up for missed classes.
- Ensuring that their child/ren is/are appropriately dressed for the Madrasah.
- Teaching and reinforcing the importance of respecting teachers and peers, and observing
- Madrasah rules and regulations.
- Encouraging and leading the child to develop proper study habits at home. Make learning fun but at the same time do not compromise when it comes to homework.
- Reviewing with their child material taught each week and ensuring that all homework assignments are completed on time.
- Participating meaningfully in parent-teacher meetings to discuss their child?s progress and areas that need attention and improvement.
- Discussing reports with their child and jointly striving for improvement.