Updated 16 May 2012

The Madrasah Centre of Excellence was formed to ensure that the Madrasah agenda of The World Federation is always at the forefront of our leaders and our global organisation. Its focus would be to attain harmony amongst the madaris and to become a central place for madaris to seek help and support in the running of their institutions.

The Continuous Assessment & Evaluation work stream would create a learning environment for all; where the students, teachers and institutions are examined and evaluated with a view to continually improve. It will allow the Madrasah not only to compare and be compared so as to enable learning from each other but also to focus on specific areas of need.

The Madrasah Centre of Excellence (MCE) held an intensive Madrasah Assessment Training Session in Birmingham UK from 27th – 29th April 2012.  The outcomes of the successful training programme were to provide the would-be madrasah assessors with:

a) A common understanding of the work of the Madrasah Centre of Excellence.
b) An appreciation of adult learning models and its application in assessment and evaluation.
c) An overview of the madrasah assessment process and its application.
d) An increased understanding of self and its impact on the assessment process.
e) An understanding of the concept of “iceberg” and its application to the institution of madrasah.
f) An opportunity to enhance and practice communication skills required in the assessment process.
g) An opportunity to compile a draft report for a madrasah

The programme included an understanding of theoretical concepts like andragogy vs pedagogy, as well as undertaking practical exercises like role plays. Participants were required to conduct mock interviews with teachers from Muhammadi Madrasah in Birmingham.  An 80-page Madrasah Assessors Handbook was prepared specifically for the Madrasah Assessment and Evaluation Programme.

A total of 22 participants from Canada, Dubai, Kenya, Tanzania, UK and USA attended the training session. Every participant will be involved in at least one of the six pilot assessments of madaris which will be carried out by MCE over the next few months. The plan is to conduct similar training sessions in every region in order to have a team of local assessors in each region.
  
 

The feedback from the trainees was overwhelmingly positive. In response to the question what I liked most, some of the comments received were:

• The high quality discussions, the enthusiasm of the facilitators, the content and method of delivery of the material.
• The easy going atmosphere, the course content of the topics covered and the skills which were taught.
• Meeting people from other communities and realising that we have very similar aspirations for our madaris.

Naushad Mehrali, Head of MCE, said: ”A lot of effort went into producing and delivering  the programme but it was all worthwhile. Yasin Rahim, Head of Assessment and Evaluation work stream, worked round-the-clock to make the best use of a unique opportunity to train committed madrasah volunteers who travelled long distances at fairly short notice. It was certainly one of the best World Federation training sessions I have attended.”