Updated 11 July 2012

As part of its Madrasah Assessment and Evaluation Process (MAEP), the Madrasah Centre of Excellence (MCE) carried out a pilot assessment of Hyderi Islamic School, South London on 12 May 2012. 

MAEP is about raising standards in our madaris globally through a process that is designed, detailed and implemented by those working in the madrasah. The pilot assessment began with a pre-assessment meeting between MCE and the management team of Hyderi Islamic School, four weeks before the date of assessment. It was followed by the madrasah completing a self-certification form on the four standards, namely:

Standard 1: Madrasah apply principles of good corporate governance
Standard 2: Madrasah ensures that teaching is provided by suitably qualified and or experienced personnel
Standard 3: There are systems and processes in place to assess progress in the madrasah
Standard 4: Madrasah has a positive impact in the lives of the children, the parents, the local community and the wider society locally

Eight trained assessors from MCE visited Hyderi Islamic School to assess compliance of these standards. The assessors, who came from different Jamaats in UK and one who came from Dubai, had amongst them over 120 years of madrasah related work. The methodology for doing the assessment included a review of the self-certification form, conducting interviews with teachers, children and parents, and observation of lessons. The madrasah shared with the MCE assessors some good practices and also results of the surveys of teachers and parents which they had undertaken.

MCE prepared a draft report of the assessment which has been submitted to Hyderi Islamic School for checking the factual accuracy. A final report is due to be issued by 15th July 2012. The report will be for the madrasah only and MCE will not publish it. However, the madrasah can, if it chooses to, share
the report as it sees fit. 

Considering that it was the first pilot assessment, the MCE assessment team was pleased with the process which will undergo refinement after each pilot assessment. It is envisaged that at least six further pilot assessments will be carried out in various regions before ‘live’ assessments of madaris take place.

Mulla Mohamed Kassamali, one of the assessors who went to Hyderi commented: “The system of assessment and evaluation is long overdue.  The steps taken by the MCE to train assessors is praiseworthy.  Having been to Hyderi to pilot the process, I felt that the skills as an assessor trained me appropriately. The assessment gave us a thorough insight of the madrasah on the day of our visit. “

Brother Mohamed Raza Walji, the Principal of Hyderi Islamic School, remarked:
“The experience during, and after, the assessment has been an eye opener for us. We felt motivated by the positive approach and feedback from the members of the assessment panel who demonstrated professionalism and sensitivity in carrying out their task. They were able to ‘read our feelings’ in the manner in which we run the madrasah as one large family. The whole process guided us to introspection of our madrasah which will go a long way towards our development. We were extremely satisfied with the final outcome and we appreciate the effort that was put in by MCE.”

Sayyid Aliraza Naqvi, ASG for Islamic Education said: "Assessment is a new area for us and we want the process to be supportive and developmental.  The experience of undertaking the pilot in Hyderi has given us some ideas on how to improve the methodology, inshallah.  We will be building upon this. "

A lesson in progress at Hyderi Islamic School, South London