A Roman Catholic primary school in the heart of the Asian community in Lancashire, Blackburn, England, looks set to be the first Kaolik school in the country to be converted into an Islamic school.
Ten years ago, at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Catholic students were still the majority (91%). However, now the number has decreased dramatically to no more than 3%.
The Diocese of Salford - which is responsible for running the school - has concluded it is no longer "right" for the Catholic church to remain accountable.
The Sacred Heart RC Primary School is now ready to be taken over by the Tauheedul Islam Mosque, in Blackburn, which already has a high school for girls. The mosque has expressed interest in taking over the school adjacent to Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School and turning it into an Islamic school.
The head of Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, Hamid Patel, said that most (97%) of Sacred Heart RC Primary School's students are Muslim. "It makes sense for us to get involved with the school," he was quoted as saying on the website Belfast Telegraph.
"We need more information from local authorities, but if the community and the school want us to be involved, then we are interested," he added.
Daily Telegraph reported, currently in the UK there is an increasing demand for Islamic public schools. The Muslim population in Britain increased rapidly to around 2,5 million between 2004-2008, but only 11 Islamic schools have opened with the kingdom's state funds. (Mel / ddhongkong.org). *
