Luminosity

Low Down on Schools in Madinah:

Madinah is a beautiful place to be and there are opportunities to learn at every corner, finding what works for you and your family if you are making hijrah can be a challenge though..actually seems to be for everyone-young or old. There isn’t really one source that covers it all, so I hope this humble attempt of mine will be useful for those seeking knowledge here for themselves and/or their kids.  I tried to focus on schools for kids as I have gotten many emails recently of those who are coming here inshaAllah from all over the world (namely the West though) of how schools work.  If any of you readers are in Madinah or in KSA and have input then please add it..in the comments section and I will appreciate it very much as I am still trying to figure out how all these things work! Also, not meaning to sound redundant as I know I have mentioned a few points here and there through other posts-but I wanted to make it as comprehensive as I could here to help us all get organized in our thoughts and missions of seeking knowledge for the sake of Allah..and Allah Knows Best.

4 Types of Schools

1. Saudi Private: Non-Quran Based

Price tag of 3500-9500 riyals /year (Quran and non-Quran based)

Arabic Medium, everything including math, sciences with the obvious exception of English

Most if not all teachers in these schools are Saudi, young women

Hours are longer ranging from 6:30-1:30 in the spring terms, and 7-2 in the winter (give or take from school to school)

Bus services available but can be up to 2,000 for each kid per term- always a lady on the bus for girl schools known as the ‘Mushriffa’.

Your paying so they’ll listen, give out their mobile phones

Extra-curricular activities like computers, gym, and crafts: don’t let this fool you though because goals for these classes are not established, more like exposure rather than planned lessons

Quran is a defininte part of the curriculum, they follow the national standards, but are not overbearing on the kids and have a more easy approach to fostering memorization

Any type of Government School is going to have a ratio of 1:20 kids (up to 25)

2. Saudi Private Quran-Based

All subjects are taught, including English but Quran is strongly emphasized, maybe more than all other classes.

Best option for children whose parents want them to take Quran seriously and are to let their kids fall behind in other subjects at least a little

Many expat families want their kids in these schools for Primary school so they can transfer into the Government Schools by 6^th grade (Motawassit/Middle School) come middle school time (6^th grade) due to Quranic component, it becomes much more difficult to get in if you are not Saudi-and if your child has not memorized much Quran according to syllabus, hence the desire to put younger kids in Saudi Private Quran based Schools.  I hear after that its nearly impossible to get in; and the Saudi Private Quran Based-Schools do not place as heavy emphasis on Quran in the Middle schools.

3. Government Schools

School hours are different-shorter days from 7-12:30 in the winter, and 6:30-11:30 (give or take these are estimates-the point is your child won’t be so exhausted if you want to put them in an afternoon program for hifz insha’Allah or in a halaqa at the Haram from Maghrib-Isha. More time to work with them on all subjects at home too insha’Allah.

Classrooms can have up to 40 kids in a class-so there is less attention on individual needs.

Not sure how welcoming they are to parents to pop in at any time, like in the Private schools

Manners are horrendous everywhere here, but even more so in Government so, to wean your child into the culture here might be better before throwing them in these schools.

Over 90-95% of kids I think are Saudi and your child will be different if you are an expat..make sure they are tough and stay true to themselves by placing Allah first

Teachers get better benefit packages and pay I guess too, but they put up with the lack of materials and resources and lack of time to consult with parents.

Children are graded more fairly in government schools (private schools teachers don’t want to upset the parents-although more encouraging towards them, they may claim your child is doing an excellent job when in fact they are only doing OK work)

4. International (English Medium)

Currently only 2 in Madinah (But plans to open Manarat International School after Ramadan 2008-2009-not all grades..inshaAllah i will post more when there is more info available)

Aqeeq International

Girls & Boys sections are not side by side but in same neighborhood

Mostly run by Egyptians with American curriculum, even things like US History

English medium, Arabic taught daily and French is part of the curriculum from 1^st grade too (maybe KG)

Islam is a part of all schools by default here, but some are less emphasized than others-Aqeeq is one of them

Quran taught by Saudis

Tons of homework and stress on academics, but weak Islamic and Quran education

Not open to suggestions and serious problem with adab of kids in the classrooms

Girls section is rated fair by parents-but certainly room for improvement and the boys section is worse

Known as the best of the worst schools in English (not a lot of choices in Madinah)

Seems like families of this school make hijrah here for monetary gain vs religious

Indian/Pakistani International School

Haven’t heard much, but heard it was better than Aqeeq, Urdu and Arabic taught early on and perhaps more religiously inclined families. Allah knows best.

International-not recognized by Saudi Ministry of Education

1 or 2 schools one is known as having a strong founder who has been here in Madinah for several years. But  from what I have heard the building is small and unkempt, not recognized by the Saudi Ministry of Education which creates a big problem when transferring out into another Saudi school, private or government

 Homeschooling

 You must provide them with a certificate of completion to register your children in the Saudi schools. We did this when my oldest completed 2^nd Grade with Calvert and alhamdulilah they accepted it but it is not an easy process and I wouldn’t  be surprised if this was a problem for others even with the certificate of completion-as rules here in Saudi seem not to be standard. But the stamp of approval needs to come from your home country’s Saudi office.

Quran/Arabic Lessons

Tahfeez/Hifz programs are everywhere. Young and older boys can be found are in every masjid in every neighborhood from Asr-Maghrib and some between Maghrib –Isha.

Girls have local schools looking like homes mainly same times as above.  They tend to focus on Arabic as it relates to Quran and Memorization. They don’t do tafsir, and the classes tend to be huge.

Saudi women tend not to be in these classes unless they are older and illiterate. You find mainly expat women going for the classes and Saudi girls of all ages going for their classes in the Asr-Maghrib time slot.

 Young boys and girls under 6 go for rawda and tamheedi which translates into preschool and pre-kindergarten attend in the mornings as well for about 3 hours-classes parallel to morning classes for women. Kids as young as 3 yrs. old can begin.

Programs are funded by government so tend to be free, but some are as costly as 50 riyals a month for each person enrolled. Not a big difference of quality of education

Teachers teaching mostly are young have memorized the whole Quran masha’Allah, but the minimum requirement is to have memorize at least 20 Juz.

At the Haram, Masjid an-Nabi there are morning Halaqas for women; Asr-Maghrib and Maghrib-Isha classes for girls and women.  Requires registration at the beginning of the Islamic year which fill up quickly.  But you can always sit and listen and recite along with them as these classes are mostly in the prayer areas of the Haram. No problem with that insha’Allah.

Boys halaqa are available in the women’s section of the Haram only for 5-6 year olds-then they get kicked out to the men’s section which their male guardian or male family member should seek to register  

Boy classes for those seeking for Hifz, filled with expat boys ranging from 6-maybe through 12 ish..from 7:30-11:30 I think (yanni, that’s an estimate of time), and there are also asr and maghrib programs for them there insha’Allah. Perhaps for men too? My husband told me there are halaqas throughout giving lessons on Tawheed, Fiqh and Fiqh with answer/question sessions with various Imams as well as Hudhaify, masha’Allah. Mostly in Arabic, but some un Urdu and during busy peak hours youll hear Turkish and English-same at the women’s section.

Islamic University of Madinah provides Arabic classes for non-arabic speaking boys and men for about 3 hours a night. They currently do not provide classes for women there, as far as I know.

Tutors are available insha’Allah in Madinah to help out and the prices vary quite a bit. Most women prefer to teach Quran & Arabic in their homes and will not venture out into yours. Some charge 50 riyals an hour, while others charge 700/month for 3/days a week (almost 2hours/lesson). Some will say 100 riyals a week plus 10 riyals each way if they are far from you –to cover transportation.

Fathers can find men tutors for their boys by heading to the Masjid-maybe by asking the imam for referrals.

Masjid Quba does not currently have classes for girls, but they do for boys Asr-Maghrib..not sure if they have them for boys in the morning. I’ve been trying to find that out.

Extra Stuff 

School across the street from Madinah National Hospital

for preschool, pre-K and KG boys and girls in the mornings with a tutroring program for girls from 5-9pm 5 days/week. They go with their books from school and get extra help in Quran, Arabic, all other subjects and English, Arts  & Crafts gym..everything they claim. 500 riyals/month for full time. You can opt for part-time too for a lower rate. Field trips and parties on Thursdays. Open year round, including summer. Closed during Eids and Ramadan, just opened up this year (in Spet, beginning of academic year).

Qodrat Math

Just heard this program is opening up soon in Madinah too. They follow the Math You See Philosophy. Pricey as well but focus is on problem solving claiming high academic standards. I emailed them a few days ago but no response yet. If anyone has any info on this let me know I guess this a widespread program and hear it is in Riyadh too. Check it out, www.qodrat.com.  

 

May Allah increase us all in knowledge, eman, ibaadat, and ihsaan..we are all in need, and may Allah make our kids way smarter than us!! Ameen.

 

….and with Allah is all Knowledge.