The Madrasah and Muslim Child Upbringing in Accra: A Study of Institute of Islamic Studies, Nima-Accra

Abstract

Ghana after independence has strived to transform secular education and Islamic education. This led to the establishment of the Islamic Education Unit (IEU) under the Ghana Education Service (GES) in 1987. The main aim was to enhance administrative linkage between Qur‘anic Schools (Makaranta and Madrasah) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the country in order to reform the Madrasah (English Arabic Schools) education to enable the Muslim child to attain both secular education and Islamic education under one roof. The study adopted theological and phenomenological approaches to investigate the Madrasah education and Muslim child upbringing. Relevant literature was sourced from primary and secondary sources. The study investigated Madrasah education and Muslim child upbringing using the Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) of the Islamic Research and Reformation Centre (IRRC) at Nima in Accra as a case study. In order to achieve the aims and objectives of the study, the views of families, Ulamah (Islamic Scholars) and teachers were solicited. Other views were obtained from the current and past students of the Institute of Islamic Studies. The study revealed that Madrasah plays a crucial part in the upbringing of the Muslim child in Nima. The challenges identified in the study included indecent lifestyle, peer influence and truancy among others. The research recommends that parents need to be actively involved in the acquisition of Islamic education of their wards and children. Furthermore, the research recommends that Madrasah education is critical in the upbringing of the Muslim child and his/her development.