Description:This photograph by Nick Hedges which was exhibited in 1976 depicts a scene from a Koran lesson at an Islamic supplementary school in Wolverhampton.
The education of children was, and continues to be, an important concern for Muslim parents in Britain. Supplementary schools, based in mosques, were an important part of passing on the Koranic teachings and morals and manners of Islam to future generations. Important lessons about their Islamic and cultural heritage were taught here. Children would attend classes in the evening after spending the day at an ordinary primary or secondary school.
As well as supplementary schools, a number of Muslim primary and secondary schools have been established in Birmingham, two examples being the Al-Hijrah and Al Furqan schools. Alongside teaching the National Curriculum, these schools implement an education based on Islamic principles often consisting of Koranic recitation, Islamic history, interpretation of Islamic law and Arabic classes.
Author: Sarah Dar