fbpx
MAC
  • Search
  • Offcanvas Icon
    • About
      • Who We Are
      • Our Team
        • Executive Committee
        • Board of Directors
        • Leaders Spotlight
      • FAQ
      • Community Impact
    • Institutions
      • Schools
        • Full-Time Schools
          • Olive Grove School
          • Maple Grove School
          • Abrar School Ottawa
          • Al-Furqan Ottawa
          • Rahma School Ottawa
          • Al-Furqan Toronto
          • Al-Furqan Waterloo
          • Niagara Islamic School
          • MAC Calgary Islamic School
          • MAC Edmonton Islamic School
          • Albayan School Vancouver
        • Part-Time Schools
          • Al-Huda Schools
          • Al-Huda-Verdun Islamic School
          • Al-Huda School Winsdor
          • Al-Salam Academy Calgary
        • Quran Schools
          • Al-Otrojah for Quran Studies
          • Ecole Coranique Al-Bayane
          • Dar Al-Arqum
        • Pre-Schools & Daycare
          • MAC Islamic School Creative Minds Edmonton
          • OGS Preschool & Toddler Program
          • Maple Grove School
      • Centers & Masajid
        • Islamic Community Centre of Ontario – ICCO
        • Masjid Toronto Dundas
        • Kitchener Masjid Waterloo
        • Islamic Centre of Waterloo
        • MAC Youth Centre Ottawa
        • Al Rawdah Mosque
        • Centre Laurentien d’Aide A la Famille
        • Montreal: CIIC
        • MAC Information Centre
        • MAC Islamic Centre of Verdun
        • Rose City Islamic Centre
        • Cold Lake Mosque
        • MAC Islamic Centre (Rahma Mosque)
        • Montreal Centre Communautaire Villeray
        • Al-Salam Centre
        • MAC Vancouver Centre
        • MAC Hyde Park
        • MAC Westmount
        • MAC Noor Garderns
        • Masjid Aisha
        • Masjid Hespeler
      • Local Chapters
        • Mississauga
        • Toronto
        • London
        • Kitchener Waterloo
        • Hamilton
        • Ottawa
        • Montreal
        • Windsor
        • Calgary
        • Edmonton
        • Vancouver
    • Our Work
      • Youth
      • Projects and Campaigns
      • Events & Activities
    • News & Media
      • Statements
      • MAC in the News
      • Bulletin Board
      • Newsletter
    • ConnectHub
      • Connect Hub Resources
      • Positivity
      • Kids’ Corner
      • Islamic Resources
      • Health & Wellness
      • Family
      • Fun Learning
      • Nutrition & Fitness
      • Creativity
      • Business
    • Contact Us
      • Get in Touch
      • Media Inquiries
      • Contacts Directory
      • Volunteer
      • Careers
    • Donate
    • Search
MAC
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
      • Executive Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Leaders Spotlight
    • FAQ
    • Community Impact
  • Institutions
    • Schools
      • Full-Time Schools
        • Olive Grove School
        • Maple Grove School
        • Abrar School Ottawa
        • Al-Furqan Ottawa
        • Rahma School Ottawa
        • Al-Furqan Toronto
        • Al-Furqan Waterloo
        • Niagara Islamic School
        • MAC Calgary Islamic School
        • MAC Edmonton Islamic School
        • Albayan School Vancouver
      • Part-Time Schools
        • Al-Huda Schools
        • Al-Huda-Verdun Islamic School
        • Al-Huda School Winsdor
        • Al-Salam Academy Calgary
      • Quran Schools
        • Al-Otrojah for Quran Studies
        • Ecole Coranique Al-Bayane
        • Dar Al-Arqum
      • Pre-Schools & Daycare
        • MAC Islamic School Creative Minds Edmonton
        • OGS Preschool & Toddler Program
        • Maple Grove School
    • Centers & Masajid
      • Islamic Community Centre of Ontario – ICCO
      • Masjid Toronto Dundas
      • Kitchener Masjid Waterloo
      • Islamic Centre of Waterloo
      • MAC Youth Centre Ottawa
      • Al Rawdah Mosque
      • Centre Laurentien d’Aide A la Famille
      • Montreal: CIIC
      • MAC Information Centre
      • MAC Islamic Centre of Verdun
      • Rose City Islamic Centre
      • Cold Lake Mosque
      • MAC Islamic Centre (Rahma Mosque)
      • Montreal Centre Communautaire Villeray
      • Al-Salam Centre
      • MAC Vancouver Centre
      • MAC Hyde Park
      • MAC Westmount
      • MAC Noor Garderns
      • Masjid Aisha
      • Masjid Hespeler
    • Local Chapters
      • Mississauga
      • Toronto
      • London
      • Kitchener Waterloo
      • Hamilton
      • Ottawa
      • Montreal
      • Windsor
      • Calgary
      • Edmonton
      • Vancouver
  • Our Work
    • Youth
    • Projects and Campaigns
    • Events & Activities
  • News & Media
    • Statements
    • MAC in the News
    • Bulletin Board
    • Newsletter
  • ConnectHub
    • Connect Hub Resources
    • Positivity
    • Kids’ Corner
    • Islamic Resources
    • Health & Wellness
    • Family
    • Fun Learning
    • Nutrition & Fitness
    • Creativity
    • Business
  • Contact Us
    • Get in Touch
    • Media Inquiries
    • Contacts Directory
    • Volunteer
    • Careers
  • Donate
  • Search

Student Eagerness to Learn in Reopened Islamic Schools Presents Important Growth Opportunities During Pandemic

admin25743
December 8, 2020
In the News

Student Eagerness to Learn in Reopened Islamic Schools Presents Important Growth Opportunities During Pandemic

With schools open again in Ontario, there have already been numerous concerns from administrators, teachers and students alike, and those concerns have dominated discussions around schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sustaining student learning in ways that are safe has indeed added stressors to both the public and private school systems; however, some strides are being made by groups like the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) and Olive Grove School (OGS), that go beyond required safety measures. In fact, some surprising developments have emerged due to the constraints of the pandemic: particularly, student resilience, leadership and academic excellence.

In response to the shutdown back in March, MAC transferred over two thousand students to online learning. The pre-existing technological infrastructure in the school environment made this transition smooth and effective. The response was so successful that MAC was invited to present to Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce on how OGS had implemented the Province’s directive.

Anticipating a re-opening in the fall at its numerous schools across the country, MAC built a framework for a healthy school environment, prioritizing both safety and exceptional instructional delivery that was accepted by provincial health authorities. Much thought has also been given by MAC to the support students would need upon returning from months of isolation. In response, OGS increased the number and accessibility of guidance counsellors available to students.

At the same time, throughout the lockdown, MAC believed that a proactive approach to emotional support was needed beyond the core subjects. Unlike other school systems, OGS increased its investment in its character education program, focusing on life skills such as emotional intelligence, facing adversity, and leadership, among other crucial concepts. Our continued emphasis on maintaining social connections for students also ensured their sense of community was not as impacted by the lockdown. Another unique priority has been community building through programs such as MAC iRise where students from Ottawa to Edmonton learned a Muslim responsibility of giving back through creative idea of helping those in need or supporting those on the frontlines during the pandemic, even while staying at home.

This three-tiered approach (character building, community building and mental wellness), has resulted in less of a need for mental health services. Students are eager to learn, excited to get back into the classroom to focus on their education while taking a lead role in classroom responsibility. With minimal class disruption, smaller class sizes in-person and online, and streamlined lesson delivery, students are excelling and displaying emotional resilience in ways that exceed our expectations. They recognize and accept that our adaptations will just be part of their lives and studies for the time being. They are doing their best and the results are showing already.

Teachers and administrators report almost no disciplinary visits to the main office and an increased level of focus and achievement. Lates and absences have also decreased to almost nothing with students who are at home sick able to access their lessons online, leaving their education uninterrupted. While staff remain vigilant to issues that may crop up, it appears that so far, the constraints of the pandemic have offered space for many students to flourish in ways that more traditional educational methods do not.

Schools shouldn’t be afraid to maximize their pandemic planning and go above and beyond to keep families safe, educated and cared for. More than that, schools should know that offering a variety of flexible delivery methods and organization in each respective space can allow for different traits in our students to be nurtured. It’s the job of schools to take the challenges of the pandemic as they come, and develop unique, adaptive solutions that continue our investment in student learning, leveraging its constraints to help develop their resilience. In the past, writers and educators alike have tried to imagine what a 21st century education might look like. The pandemic has forced a series of changes that have truly set the foundation for the future of student learning, both in content and delivery. Despite the difficulties of our current moment, there are some beautiful adaptations in education that have taken place and which set a precedent for our students going forward.

Abdulatif Bakbak is the principal at the Muslim Association of Canada –Olive Grove School in Mississauga since its inception in 2006.

Click here to read original article

Previous Story
Tackling systemic racism starts with an overhaul within government institutions
Next Story
MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – December 2020

Related Articles

Ali: On International Women’s Day, #ChooseToChallenge gender discrimination in Canada – and everywhere

As COVID-19 rolls back many gains for gender equality, women...

Ali, Lawendy and Dwyer: Faith-based mental health supports for students need a boost

More and more during the pandemic, young people are turning...

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Recent Comments

  • Anzar Ahmad on Writing a Muslim-Canadian narrative is based on knowing your authentic identity
  • Ahmed on MAC Give Organizing Blood drive with Canadian Blood Services
  • Ahmad Ismail on Akram Raouf
  • Khunsa A on Artwork by Sajida Fazal-Chagpar
  • Noor on It’s Ok to let boys be Aggressive: It May have Flattened the Curve | Article by Dr. Asma Ahmadi

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019

Categories

  • Articles
  • Artwork
  • Bulletin Board
  • Connect Hub
  • Cooking
  • Eid
  • Expressions Corner
  • Humans of COVID19
  • In the News
  • Local ePrograms
  • MAC E-Learning
  • National Campaigns
  • National ePrograms
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Official Statements
  • Photography
  • Poetry
  • Ramadan Highlights
  • Ramadan Learning & Activities
  • Reflections
  • Relief
  • Short Stories
  • Spotlight
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • EN
  • FR

Quick Links

  • About Mac
  • Donate
  • Sign Up
  • Contacts Directory
  • Media Inquiries
  • Careers @ MAC (FR)

Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)Follow

Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
MACNational
31 Mar

Thank you to @CNDMuslimForum for presenting MAC with this plaque and recognition.

As a charity MAC works to inspire Muslims to put their faith into action.

CanadianMuslimForum@CNDMuslimForum

@CNDMuslimForum 13th banquet recognition plaque #award for @MACNational significant contribution to the #Muslim #Canadian #community

Reply on Twitter 1377325091990691847Retweet on Twitter 13773250919906918471Like on Twitter 13773250919906918473
MACNational
31 Mar

MAC took part in @nccm's virtual Advocacy Day 2021 to discuss structural biases and policies that influence the audits of Muslim-led charities with our elected officials.

Here is the link to the report: http://www.layeredsuspicion.ca
#NCCMAdvocacyDay2021

2
Reply on Twitter 1377256740752867330Retweet on Twitter 1377256740752867330Like on Twitter 13772567407528673303
MACNational
25 Mar

MAC welcomes today's #2021ontariobudget of $1.6 million committed to support the Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Grant program. MAC looks forward to working with the Anti Racism Directorate on the rise of Islamophobia in our province. @PBethlenfalvy @ONantiracism @krasheedmpp

Reply on Twitter 1375118010701258764Retweet on Twitter 13751180107012587641Like on Twitter 13751180107012587648

Follow Us

Copyright ©2019 Muslim Association of Canada. All Rights Reserved
SearchPostsLoginCart
Friday, 20, Mar
MAC Give Food Share Campaign
Tuesday, 17, Mar
MAC Give Organizing Blood drive with Canadian Blood Services
Wednesday, 31, Mar
Howaida Abdelsalam
Wednesday, 31, Mar
MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tuesday, 23, Mar
Update: Smear Campaign Continues Despite Mediation Attempts
Sunday, 14, Mar
MAC Announces April 13th First Day of Ramadan 1442
Tuesday, 9, Mar
Ali: On International Women’s Day, #ChooseToChallenge gender discrimination in Canada – and everywhere
Monday, 8, Mar
MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome back,