The Islamic Schools of Victoria

Al-Taqwa College
Location
Truganina, Victoria
Australia
Coordinates 37°51′14″S 144°43′19″E / 37.85389°S 144.72194°E / -37.85389; 144.72194Coordinates: 37°51′14″S 144°43′19″E / 37.85389°S 144.72194°E / -37.85389; 144.72194
Information
Type Independent, Co-educational
Motto Seek Knowledge
Denomination Sunni Islam
Principal Mr.Omar Hallak
Number of students 2000[1]
Colour(s) Blue, Red, White
              
Slogan Quality Education For Quality Life
Website http://www.al-taqwa.vic.edu.au

The Islamic Schools of Victoria, or otherwise known as Al-Taqwa College, is a primary and secondary school located on Sayers Road, in Truganina, Victoria, outside Melbourne, Australia. The college is also known as Werribee College.[2]

The College was built on a 50-acre property on the western side of Melbourne. The College was established by the Islamic Trust fund in 1986. The name was changed to Al-Taqwa College in 2010. Next to the main campus on Sayers Road, a mosque (masjid) was built.[3] Al-Taqwa College is a member of Independent Schools Victoria which is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to Independent education.[4]

When the school was first established, classes ranged from Prep. to Year 10. As the school grew it expanded and added on VCE (Years 11 and 12). The school has another campus called the Olive Branch, which runs occasional classes in Agriculture and Horticulture. The school has a branch in Indonesia, named the Al-Taqwa College, International Islamic School of Indonesia.

In 2015, the number of students at Al-Taqwa College is close to 2,000 with numbers expected to reach 2,500 students in 2018. Subjects taught at the college include English, Maths, Languages other than English (L.O.T.E.), Information Technology, Business, Art and Physical Education.

Students at Al-Taqwa College come from various backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. The school's foundation is strongly based upon ethos of equality, equity and cohesive unity. Families of students have migrated from the following countries:

In 2005 there were a number of issues of concern raised involving the school.[5]

Subsequently, a former teacher said that the college principal had anti-Semitic views. Another said that non-Muslim teachers were treated as "second-class citizens". In 2015, the school principal told students that Islamic State was a Western plot.[6] The spokesman for the Islamic Council of Victoria said they did not support the comments regarding the terror group.[7] The principal's comments were called, "reckless and dangerous if true" by James Merlino, Victoria's Education Minister.[8]

The school's principal denied claims[9] regarding possible injury for girls, if they run.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "al-Taqwa: About Us History". Al-Taqwa. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Education provider details". State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training). Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Al-Taqwa Masjid Activities". Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Al-Taqwa College: Valuable Lessons" (PDF). Independent Schools Victoria. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Skelton, Russell (31 July 2005). "Muslims sound alarm over schools". The Age. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Cook, Henrietta (1 April 2014). "Christopher Pyne asks Al-Taqwa principal to explain himself after Islamic State comments". Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Dean, Sarah (23 March 2015). "'We don't believe Muslims are creating ISIS': Principal of Melbourne Islamic school tells his students terror group is a conspiracy created by Israel and Western countries". Daily Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Szego, Julie (26 March 2015). "The dangers of feeding lies to Muslim children". The Age. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Meehan, Melissa; Livingston, Angus (23 April 2015). "Islamic principal says reports untrue". The Mercury. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Girls at Islamic Al-Taqwa College banned from running over virginity fears, teacher claims". ABC News. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.


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