System Gone Awry

Passed my car keys to the regular amiable chap, and took a seat.

"Asalamu'alaikum!" I start off on this bright sunny morning, making small talk. Ah, lectures in Islamic Studies at the University close by; it is compulsory for the Malay/Muslim students that attend the University to attend Islamic Studies; the syllabus starts off with Islamic History right up to the current Islamic Era.

"Does the course cover an in-depth understanding of Islam?" I ask.

"The lecturer has to step in to play that role. We get about 10% of the students who are graced with the profound meaning and alhamdulillah there is a positive change in them."

Perchance we talk about the Islamic education at the Primary school level (children 7 to 12 years of age).

"From my observation and close-hand experience, the love for Allah and the understanding of Islam is not instilled in the child at Primary level. The children are thought to memorise verses without understanding the meaning, thought how to read the Quran without understanding its context."

“It’s only at the secondary school level (children age 13-17) are students exposed to the deeper understanding of Islam,” I am thus enlightened.

Influx from the daily news and the evident behaviour of teenage kids, show it’s a tad bit too late at this stage. Before they reach their teens, children are exposed to negative influences that somehow seem to leave an impression on them (does not Syaitan entice us with things that seem exciting?). Can we not recognise that the younger years are the most important in instilling values in children?

"I dare say the Islamic Education at the Primary level needs some serious adjustments."

"True enough."

"So how do we go about it?"

"There needs to be change at a higher level," whilst the lecturer gets up, walks to a clean, gleaming car.

I wonder, when will we have a clean slate?