Islamic Education in Kenya: Challenges and Prospects

In this book Dr. Adan Saman focuses on the broad theme of ¿Integrated Islamic Schools¿ that are distinct from Madrasa, Qur¿anic schools, private secular schools and government-regulated public schools. The book presents comparative research on such integrated schools in Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Tanzania, with particular reference to Kenya. As a curriculum developer this author explains the special role of ¿Integrated Islamic Schools¿, especially in those pluralistic nations where Muslim parents would like their children to benefit from both Islamic Education and the public education curriculum. The word ¿integrated¿ refers to a school that blends the core of Islamic education with the government-regulated school content. The Integrated Islamic School is becoming normative for many parents intending to have their children immersed in both Islamic values and those entrenched in the public education system. Pupils who attend these schools are expected to excel in both tracks- to pass public examinations while excelling in the Islamic way of life. In a pluralistic nation such as Kenya, this integrated model of schooling seems appropriate.