Update of things that the MTA has been involved with as well as information of upcoming events.
We have been working with a number of different organisations. A summary is given below with more detailed information about each item underneath:
- MTA 40th Celebration on Sunday 31st March 2019-please keep this date!
- NEU Roundtable on Islamophobia -feedback from meeting
- Nida Trust -Big Sing up 2018 – Sunday 16th December 2018
- MCB visit my mosque day – Sunday 3rd March 2019
- Information for schools in setting up a prayer room-draft guidance
- The new definition: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”
- MTA at Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting with Newham and Waltham Forest
Please save the date: 31st March 2019
For the 40th Celebration of the Muslim Teachers’ Association at UCL Institute of Education. We are finalising speakers and details for the event – more details to follow soon…
Roundtable on Islamophobia with The National Education Union NEU
Colleagues from the NEU, MTA and other national organisations had a productive discussion about issues facing Muslim Teachers and Muslim Pupils. The NEU produced a briefing paper with questions for discussion and everyone had the opportunity to contribute to the discussion. We were able to raise concerns that MTA members have raised with us.
The NEU will take away the points raised and explore the best way forward on this issue.
Nida Trust – Big Sing up 2018. Sunday 16th December 2018
For pupils aged 7-14. For details of tickets please follow the link below:
MCB visit my mosque day – Sunday 3rd March 2019
#VisitMyMosque day is a national initiative facilitated by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), encouraging mosques across the UK to hold mosque open days.
For more details, please follow the link below:
Information for schools in setting up a prayer room
Draft guidance The MTA has been working this term with the MCB education group to write guidance for schools thinking of setting up a prayer room. This guidance is currently being finalised and it will be shared with you once it has been finalised.
The MTA welcomes the definition of Islamophobia released in November 2018 by the APPG on British Muslims following its year-long consultation across the UK.
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”
The definition aligns to the three essential principles:
- Islamophobia is a form of racism;
- Islamophobia is more than just anti-Muslim hatred or bigotry; and
- Islamophobia does not incorporate criticism of Islam as a faith but some people may hide behind “criticism of Islam” when engaging in Islamophobia.
The proposed definition also has strong support amongst academics in the field, and support from many Muslims across the United Kingdom.
MTA at SACRE meeting with Newham and Waltham Forest
The MTA contributed to the SACRE meeting at Waltham Forest Town Hall on 28th November 2018. The event explored the role of Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE). This included:
- How to observe RE and collective acts of worship in schools
- The role of SACRE and their duties and a code of conduct for members