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What Is I-LEVEL (Islamic Level)? I-LEVEL as compare to O and A-LEVEL

Article by:    Aamir Shaikh Aamir

All over the world everyone knows Ordinary Level (O level) and Advanced Level (A Level). This is the system that was introduced in early 50s all over the world. Its basic theme that times was to make a student able to pass his subjects one by one because old HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) system was thought a burden for a student because of that’s examination process which was then, as many parts of the world now, to pass the exam as a whole (all subjects). In fact that was a relief for a student and this process showed its success till late 90s.

This system was adopted successfully by third world countries likePakistantoo. It has many qualities but there are some securities had by some Muslim teachers, just like it does not portray a true picture of Islamic History and as a second approach says that this kind of enlightened study system is harmful for the Islamic way of life as it is so far from the basic teachings of Islam.

The real picture is that there is nothing bad in this system except two things; the first is its methodology, where, in the name of so called confidence in the students, it prohibits a teacher to make up the ethics and discipline of character of some student by small punishments as it had been before since centuries.

Secondly, it has grown up in a so called modern world likeAmericaandEurope. Co-incidentally, both nations are Christianity based nations and without modifying this study system, according to the real soul of Islam, it was adopted in Islamic countries. Enlightened moderation has hit the world so badly that all the nations feel proud in being a state where basic philosophies of ethics are denied and they feel honored to adopt such a system which gives them all kinds of liberty like co-education and many more.

The third aspect which I feel must be discussed is not only the fault of this system but also it has gripped all kinds of education systems firmly is that education unluckily has become an industry. Now the knowledge is sold by price. Whatever you can spend your child is compelled to get that kind of education, either it qualifies the demands of the day or not.

Now the scene is that because of its being an industry, everything is going on as in some industry happens. Educational institutes have become ‘Factories’ and their product is ‘Education’ and so sadly teachers are playing a role of a ‘Sales Person’ and nothing more.

The old fashioned phrase (as some people say) “Taleem-o Tarbiat” (Knowledge plus Training) reminds us that knowledge without training and same as training without knowledge is harmful; rather, we can say not possible. What does the word ‘Training’ mean in this phrase? In fact training here refers to a character building theory by which it is necessary to build up the student’s character as well as his education.

This education industry has closed all the doors for a teacher to make a good character out of a student. As we know all producers launch their product with many incentives for the customer and compel him or her to purchase their product only, in fact this is not bad, but in other products than education.

The investor who has spent a lot of money in this factory, how will he be able to make it profitable when his customers are not satisfied with his product? The second thing is more dark-faced and that is the mushroom growth of these factories. The risk is high in this competitive atmosphere and owner is compelled to accept all good or bad of the customer (parents of the students).

The top level demand in our age of the parents is that their child must not be punished anyway (even light punishment just as to shout on his ill behavior), otherwise they have a lot of choice on the same road. Even the owners of that factory can not mere expel that student fearing other three would go with him or her. This deficit is unbearable for him so he bears all kinds of behavior of the students and orders his sales persons (teachers) to abstain from even shouting or complaining in the office for that child’s behavior regarding discipline and education.

Western countries have progressed so fast and have a well based economy as well, so it is natural that all other nations feel good to follow them in all means and so is the case in education where developing nations see a liberty of all kinds in educational institutes and they think it necessary to adopt such a golden atmosphere in their institutes too.

We have no problem with other nations but in an Islam based country it is not appreciable. Islam has its own norms and values where this kind of system can not fit itself.

Here come the “I-LEVEL” which is basically “Islamic Level”.

We are ready to adopt the entire O and A level system but with a few changes and the changes are the same which have been discussed before. First methodology and Second is Islamization of the syllabus totally and the third is the financial factor where we are of the view that education must not be an industry or money making product.

So what is the way out to maintain such a level in education that is acceptable in Islamic countries without de-shaping the present O or A level system of study? Answer is I-LEVEL that is not so easy to explain in a few words. Its magnitude demands lot of articles to explain it well. However it may be introduced by its main and salient features.

SALIENT FEATURES

a)     The Highest level of Education (I-Level)

b)     Education plus character building

c)     Totally Free Education (no hidden charges) plus Stipend

d)     Entirely English Medium (no local language)

e)     Islamic norms and values

f)       Hi-Tech Education (Online Lectures + I-Pad )

g)     Rewrite the conflicted articles

h)     To include the latest Research in syllabus monthly

i)       Separate campuses for boys and girls even at junior level

j)       Ladies staff for girls campuses

k)     Hifz-e Quran compulsory before I-Level (within 8 years)

l)       4 years duration of I-Level (equal to intermediate (class 9, 10, 11, 12))