Muslim pupils and fasting Webinar Series Muslim pupils and fasting Ramadan: what schools and teachers need to know 4.00pm - 4.45pm Thursday 26th June 2014 http://www.interfaithexplorers.com/webinars

Interfaith Explorers Webinars Interfaith Explorers webinars seek to support work around interfaith dialogue and learning in schools It offers a space for teachers to come together and think about issues arising from classroom practice around interfaith work

About Interfaith Explorers Interfaith Explorers is a free online primary educational learning resource supported by UNESCO It is designed to add value to RE and PSHE lessons by helping pupils respect religious and cultural diversity It helps promote ethical thinking and deeper learning It is underpinned by a set of core values including integrity, respect, compassion, responsibility, justice, wisdom and courage

Webinar Presenters Claire Clinton Rukhsana Yaqoob An experienced teacher within EYFS, Primary and Secondary education She has over 20 years of classroom experience, and 16 years of advisory work at a national and local level Presently the Religious Education Advisor for the London Borough of Newham for six years prior to which she was a RE consultant for the London Borough of Redbridge and Essex County Council   Rukhsana Yaqoob President of the Muslim Teachers Association Has had a long career in the teaching profession and is a tutor at the Investing in Diversity programme at the Institute of Education, alongside a school governor. Rukhsana was formerly involved in delivering the National Strategies programme and has been a Narrowing the Gap Regional Adviser.   

Session objectives To define who is a Muslim To consider the role of state education practice around Ramadan To understand the purpose of Ramadan: Qur’anic teaching To consider how schools can support Muslim pupils during Ramadan: what are positive approaches for a school to take & what must be provided legally To consider how schools can be proactive and communicate well with Muslim parents about Ramadan and their children fasting

Ramadan Quiz: just to warm us up! 1. Islam means: Submission Follower Disciple 2. True or False? Fasting in Ramadan is one of the 5 duties of every Muslim.

Ramadan Quiz: continued 3. Which of these are true? During daylight hours in Ramadan there is to be no: eating talking drinking running swallowing of saliva listening to music sexual activities

Ramadan Quiz: continued 4. Which answer/s are true? Fasting in the summer month is more arduous because… There are longer fasting hours The weather is hotter People are more physical

Ramadan Quiz: continued 5. Which of the following reasons are correct? The purpose of fasting is: To become a better person To lose weight To become more aware of Allah To give money to charity that you would normally spend on food

Ramadan Quiz: continued 6. The percentage of Muslims in England and Wales has been rising in the last 50 years. What percentage of people do you think said they were Muslim? 2.9% 4.8% 12.6% 15.2% 24.8% 36.2%

Ramadan Quiz: continued 7. The most plural city in England (& in Europe actually) is Leicester There are about 330 000 people in Leicester. How many do you guess were Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh? Christian: 42% Muslim: 14% Hindu: 13% Sikh: 9% Christian: 32% Muslim: 18% Hindu: 15% Sikh: 4.5% Christian: 28% Muslim: 22% Hindu: 16% Sikh: 6% Christian: 25% Muslim: 19% Hindu: 17% Sikh 12%

Ramadan Quiz: continued 8. Luton has a higher proportion of Muslim people than any other town What proportion (percentage) do you guess they are of this city? 14% 20% 24% 26% 30% 39%

How do we support Muslim pupils at school? Everyone matters, no individual is more important than another There are legal parts to our English curriculum: Parents have the option to home school or pay for a private school if they choose They don’t have to have their children in state schools Schools legally have to deliver the curriculum set. We want to promote positive values: Ramadan practice gives schools an opportunity to focus on becoming a better person: being kind and generous Inclusive for all pupils/students Know what the Qur’an teaches – as in all religions there can be many different cultural practices. Health of growing children is of paramount importance - nothing is more important than that. Education is highly valued in the Qur’an.

Qur’anic teaching ‘Fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, so that you may be conscious of Allah.’ (2:183) ‘But he who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on. Allah desires your well-being, not your discomfort.’ (2:185) ‘Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was sent down, as a guide to mankind. So any of you who is present (in his home) during that month should spend it in fasting.’ (2:185) ‘Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread, then complete your fast until the night appears.’ (2:187)

Agreed Muslim Law Shari’ah (Islamic law, based on the Qur’an and the practice of the Prophet) states that: Fasting during Ramadan is only obligatory from the age of puberty. Part of the practice of Ramadan is: Getting up before daybreak to pray, eat and drink Then at dusk the fast is broken with prayers and then a light meal In the summer months this might mean being up at 3am, and not being able to eat a meal until after 8.00 or 9.00pm! This can lead to Muslims quite understandably feeling tired in the afternoons This is part of the reason why children are exempt, along with those with illness, who are pregnant or a nursing mother or menstruating.

So why do some children fast? Muslim children will often wish to emulate their elders and so: From an early age, Muslim children will often fast for one, two or more days during the month of Ramadan; They will be proud of this and their elders will express pleasure. A competitive spirit will often develop between children in that they will compare the number of days on which they have fasted The level of observance among children, of course, will depend upon the particular individual, family or community Most Muslim parents would not wish their children to be fasting on school days, but rather make this an activity that they do at the weekends at home, when they can rest or sleep in the afternoons of the fasting days and have the experience of community as they fast as a family together!

What could schools offer? Wash and Prayer facilities? A quiet space? Allow fasting pupils out of school at lunchtime? Extra staff on duty at lunchtime? Teach SRE during Ramadan?

Planning for next year Ramadan takes places 11 days earlier each year so this year it starts on 27th/28th June Over the next few years it will begin around: 16th June 2015 5th June 2016 25th May 2017 Should we consider moving sports day? Should we consider moving internal examinations? Should we consider not having parents meetings/evenings during this time? Should we have an Eid celebration?

Communicating well with Muslim families As Ramadan starts tomorrow, recognise and acknowledge that it is going on: Write a letter for pupils to take home Put something in a school newspaper (get something in for next week) You will get parents on your side by showing as a school you have knowledge about what is going on for them Decide a clear message you want to communicate: It is fine to ask pupils not to fast who are not over puberty Many parents are unaware of the fact that children are fasting at school, so are often on the same side of wanting children under puberty not to fast on school days. It is fine to ask those who are, to not fast maybe for a sports competition (e.g. Muslim athletes delayed their fast in 2012 at Olympics) Flag up positive aspects of Ramadan that you can appreciate as a school: The discipline of fasting: kindness, consideration, generosity and charitable giving These could be foci for themes that you address through assemblies or PSHE time

Wrap up Any questions?

Contact Interfaith Explorers! For further information about the webinar series and how Interfaith Explorers can support you visit: www.interfaithexplorers.com or contact Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Chief Executive Maimonides Interfaith Foundation rokhsana@maimonides-foundation.org