Approval sought to open Kerry?s first Islamic school in Tralee
Wednesday November 21 2007
The proposed Islamic school would operate according to the national primary school curriculum but pupils would be instructed in Islamic teachings and the Koran. It is likely the school would also teach Arabic as it is required in order to properly study the Koran. The New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) is asking for public consultation with regard to the location of the proposed muslim primary school in Tralee.
The Islamic Board of Education has applied to the Department of Education and Science for registration as patrons of National Schools under the Education Act 1998. No site has been selected for the school if it gets the green light.
The NSAC says it will consider views received from individuals or groups on the proposed new school with particular reference to whether the school will meet a need that cannot be met by the existing schools in the Tralee area.
Other considerations include the desirability of such a school in Tralee and the degree of local community support for the proposed Islamic school.
If it is granted permission the school would not be solely for Islamic pupils and teachers and pupils of all faiths would be entitled to work and learn at the school. The dominant ethos would be Islamic and would respect the religion?s rules and teachings.
The closing date for submissions to the NSAC is Friday December 14. A departmental decision on the proposed school will follow early in 2008.
Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the country. The most recent census figures available on the Islamic community are in the 2002 census when there were 1,941 Muslims living in Muster, 554 of whom were residing in Kerry.
This represented a surge of almost 500 per cent on the previous census in 1998 when there were just 337 Muslims in all of Munster. Figures on religion from the 2006 census will be released at the end of the month and another equally large surge in the Islamic community is expected.
As it stands Kerry has the largest Muslim community in Munster outside of Cork and Limerick cities.
The Islamic community in Kerry is predominantly based in Tralee and Killarney with most living in the county capital.
