Arabiyya acting head denies rumours of Arabic education ban

Hussain Saeed, who is temporarily in charge of the Arabiyya School, on Wednesday has denied reports that he was planning to discontinue teaching Arabic medium and said he would not take over the administration of Arabiyya if there was any such suspicion.

Rumours of Arab language being removed in Arabiyya School started doing the rounds after the school's principal, Mohammad Shujau Abdul Raheem, was removed from the responsibilities of running the school. Some of the parents who protested said it was a move to stop the 'Save Arabiyya' campaign and stop the teaching of Arabic language and related subjects.

Speaking on PSM's 'Raajje Miadhu’ programme, Saeed, who is also the Principal of Iskandhar School, also in charge of running Arabiyya, said he would not do such a thing to Arabiyya even if there was any suspicion that he was doing so.

"To humiliate [the study of Arabic], I will not take on Arabiyya to wear that medal," Saeed said, pointing out that he did not have any intention to stop Arabic studies in Arabiyya.

In response to criticism over the transfer of the former principal, the government said it had entrusted the administration of Arabia to another principal after it pointed out issues related to the running of the school. Explaining what was being done under the initiative, Saeed said:

"What is needed today is doctors, engineers, scholars and pilots who have islamic upbringing. We will come up with plans that will lay the groundwork for this," Saeed said, explaining his vision for Arabiyya.

Saeed also faced the ire of the protesting parents over the removal of the principal from his duties in Arabiyya. The reason cited was that he had not given in to some of the demands of the parents when he was in charge of running the school earlier.

When questioned, Saeed said that one of the biggest challenges in the governance of Arabiyya is the hasty transfer of principals. This is happening only after the parents file a petition, he said. He termed it as a hindrance to the school's progress.

"There will be no peace and progress if the person in charge has to be changed every now and then," Saeed said.

Instead, Saeed asked parents to support Arabiyya and ask him to improve the quality of education. There is no benefit to the students by asking for other things, he said. He added that the school needs the support of parents for its progress in order to reach the rightful position of Arabiyya in the field of education.

Another major concern of parents is that their children have to study in a non-school building. This affects their children's learning, the parents said. Saeed said there are certain problems that parents point out in the absence of a compound and hall, especially because of the shortage of land, but they have the resources and equipment to teach.

The government is in the process of constructing a new building for Arabiyya School. The work was awarded to Amin Construction for MVR 168 million in September. The building will come up on the land where old Jamaluddin School is located.

In the budget presented for next year, there was a case of no funding for any of Arabiyya School development. The parliament has now allocated MVR 6.4 million for Arabiyya School in the upcoming budget.