Schools to get guidance on how to help fasting Muslim students during Ramadan
SCHOOLS will receive guidance on how to look after Muslim pupils during the month of Ramadan.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is asking them to consider the month of fasting when scheduling exams, organising swimming lessons, distributing free school meals and staging social events.
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The authority is sending out information to all its primary and secondary schools so they can prepare for pupils still taking part in Ramadan when return to lessons in September.
During the festival, it is compulsory for all males and females who have reached puberty to fast from dawn until sunset every day.
And some younger children also choose to fast for all or part of the month.
The council guidance says some pupils will get up before dawn to have their breakfast and, as a result, sleeping patterns could be interrupted.
And schools are advised to heighten staff awareness about factors affecting pupils during Ramadan.
Among issues they are also being told to consider are:
Not scheduling exams and not holding parents' meetings or other school social events in the evening;
Avoiding swimming lessons because some parents and pupils consider the risk of swallowing water too great;
Refraining from teaching sex and relationship education because Muslims are expected to avoid sexual thoughts, discourse and relations while fasting;
Giving Muslim pupils eligible for free school meals the option to take a packed lunch home;
Keeping an eye on fasting children taking part in over-demanding exercises that could lead to dehydration;
Providing more space for prayer.
The month of fasting is based on the lunar calendar, meaning the date it is celebrated on changes each year.
The guidance has been put together with the aid of material produced by the Muslim Council of Great Britain.
And it was presented to the city council's Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education yesterday.
During the meeting, members were told the festival would begin in the middle of August this year, while pupils are off for the summer holidays.
But the last week of the month will be after pupils return to classes.
And, because of that, members asked for guidance material to be circulated to schools before the summer holidays so it can be considered in time for the start of the autumn term.
Labour councillor Ruth Rosenau, pictured, said it is important to support pupils because the end of the festival could be the hardest part.
She told the meeting: "During the first few days, it is very hard to get into the idea of fasting, but as it goes on, it does become incredibly difficult.
"It would be really useful for teachers to appreciate that."
The guidance was welcomed by Rana Tufail, director of the Islamic Centre, in Shelton.
He said: "People of a young age are not obliged to fast but, when their parents are getting up early to eat, children are curious and often join in too.
"Schools are usually accommodating during Ramadan, but help for pupils to continue fasting in school is a very good thing.
"Whether they continue to fast is completely up to them."
Mr Tufail added: "Information about other communities enables us to understand them more and create a more peaceful and cohesive community to live in."
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by 1manmission, hanley
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 3:12AM
“micky boy, its annoying when people ramble and dont enter into debate or address points isnt it?
this is what you have been to me since we first met (as it were). and tbh since then all you have become is a source of amusement to me. a joker if you will with your 'iknow everything' attitude, your criticising all religions then using them to prove a point. LOL you even used a quote from the toilets in sot college you silly plonker, then you ask how you are a hypocrite.
once again i expect you to take something from this post, twist it and turn it to something you can address or make pathetic comments to, you sad sad little man
but as i said, i initially took you seriously and presented you with some points of discussion, you digressed, i persisted but soon realised that you got your thrills from this
so i left for the weekend and came back to you not only defending minority rights and their welfare but accusing everyone of being me LOL. its true what they say give a man enough rope....
and whats with the calling me out, as in hiding, from what? you? LOL i tell you what if your so eager to find out who i am stick your address on an i will pop around. i will even bring some food, home cooked
as i say i find you amusing, so will definately keep a look out for you from now on. especially when i am bored or its raining out
adios amigo”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 12:33AM
“(quote).. 'and still mick the moron rambles on and on and on and on.................(unquote)
guesswho, everywhere
-Yes, that's dead right 'hider in the dark'.
And that's how I'll continue until you and your ilk -the extremists, see the light and use logic instead of dogma, to address the issues before us..
Equality is the way forward.”
by herewego, stoke
Tuesday, July 13 2010, 8:33PM
“darren, considering the national dish is chicken tikka masala, this is curry land
another one who cant distinguish between people from the indian subcontinent and muslims.
Is it just me or people in stoke that thick that brown skin = muslim?”
by nononsense, stoke
Tuesday, July 13 2010, 8:30PM
“ooh hark at darren the d1k
Considering the national dish is chicken tikka masala, this is curry land”
by darren, stoke
Tuesday, July 13 2010, 8:24PM
“i think all muslims should beshipped back to curry land except for ones that we can exploit for white advantage such as doctors”
by guesswho, everywhere
Tuesday, July 13 2010, 8:19PM
“and still mick the moron rambles on and on and on and on.................”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Monday, July 12 2010, 10:48PM
“The local Islamic propagandists won't address any of my points I put to them, so yours too is unlikely to raise a defence.
Religion doesn't do logic -and so when it appears they take the easy way out and keep their mouths shut.
The above, should they come back on -would simply be described as a rant and a rambling piece of nonsense -that's all they'd say. And so avoiding engagement.
They're no diverse as they claim -they're perverse.”
by ian, london
Monday, July 12 2010, 1:14PM
“what about the rights of the non muslim pupils to continue to enjoy their swimming lessons.
If muslim parents want to withdraw their kids they are fully able to - the council should not be asking schools to cancel lessons to penalize non muslims. The vast majority of people in this country and not muslim and object to the ever increasing impact of islam on their daily life in this politically correct madness”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Monday, July 12 2010, 9:50AM
“message to 'mission man':
It is becoming clear to me now that you, as a passionate flyer of the Islamic Flag, are not interested in entering into a proper debate on the issues close to your heart.
I say that because when I invite you (or your sidekick northwood burka) to ask me any question you want, so as to pin me down on your claim that I am -for instance a hypocrite -you reject it out of hand, choosing instead to use 'diversionary tactics' -to steer the questions away from our differences.
-Those diversionary tactics being to make derogatory comments such as (quote) - ....well well, micky boy i thought id take advantage of the fine weather and take trip, i come back and see your on hear babbling away.get a life son. (unquote).
Again, I'm here still, waiting for you to say what it is that upsets you so and why you claim I'm a hypocrite?
I seriously want to help you to get the true picture of what is the difference between us? Where we don't see eye to eye.
I hope I can count on some measure of cooperation from you. Let's sort it.
Now on your other claim -(quote) ....'on the plus side i see my discussions
with you have had an effect, you actually sticking up for diversity? do my eyes decieve me?
1manmission, hanley
commented on 12-Jul-2010 05:30
What do you man by diversity? And a simple concise explanation would be welcome.
Do you mean for instance -separate communities? Cultural no go areas?
Finally, just one simple question for you .... Do you think there is a legitimate place in today's United Kingdom for a Heathen? -given the many definitions of that word), or for an 'infidel'.
Do the latter two positions have the same legitimacy to UK Citizenship as do British Muslims? Are we equal?”
by 1manmission, hanley
Monday, July 12 2010, 5:30AM
“well well, micky boy i thought id take advantage of the fine weather and take trip, i come back and see your on hear babbling away.
get a life son.
on the plus side i see my discussions with you have had an effect, you actually sticking up for diversity? do my eyes decieve me?”