The Wonders of Integrated Education

Singapore prides itself as having the best education system in Southeast Asia. Students from all over the world: mostly from Southeast Asia, place their children in this country with the believe that the concept of 'Thinking Schools Learning Nation' provides the gest of the myriad educational objectives of the schools here. Yet, we can hardly admit that education does not only encompass knowledge that empowers oneself with the know-how of this world, it must also prepares one for the hereafter through the dialectic between theory and praxis. That is at least a believe in the Islamic concept of education.

An integrated education provides students with values which are rooted in tradition and religion thus preparing them for spiritual strength against social ills. As the modern world with its influence of materialism (form) impresses many, one cannot but see that if graduates of an integrated education in one way or another is affected by the tide of ownership, individualism and self-fulfilling ideals, one can imagine how students in main stream schools whose exposure to values which are rooted in tradition and religion is certainly absent, cope with the influences of aforementioned challenges. An integrated education provides another layer of shield against the personality of individualness, preparing one to embrace both of this world and the hereafter. For God, society and man himself. An integrated believe of life.

Indeed, parents and families in Singapore are constrained by political and structural impediments thus unable to fully pursue the ideals of an integrated education in a single setting. Many therefore have to relent with the mainstream system, and thereafter on weekends send their children to religious classes whose time limitation is telling on the impact it can give on these young impressionable minds. Parents with strong will and family environment which are rooted in traditional systems can offset these lackingness in mainstream education system. Moreso, the quest for economic dominance made us believe that people feed on food and not values. Thus it decreases the value of religious and cultural pursuit till one reaches a stage of feeling that what they have gone for - materialism - is a fleeting and thin vineer attainment. Man is first the soul and then body comes to form yet returning later to the state of the former - its true self. Coupled with a match and patch opportunity based on the impediments imposed on families to overcome the challenge of mainstream education, the destruction of social bases who is rooted in culture and tradition creates a new man that has all of the world but loses it soul. What is left of us is just the physique minus the spirit. Is this the way forward?

It is therefore worrying that with the challenges of modernity taking its height, integrated education marginalised and substantial culture diminishes to form, the fate of of modern Singaporeans is seemed to be in the hanging. If we love this country and believe that politics of narrowness brings nothing but satisfaction to the few, we must provide more avenues for religious and cultural education to be in the grasp of many either by way of an integrated education and/or dakwah of reforming the people to hold on to the rope of ALLAH for verily His Rope will never break asunder. And it is the believe that only ALLAH Azza Wa Jalla must be pleased that will make us strong enough to carry on this mission forward for our life, death and actions are all for Him and only Him, Sustainer and Provider of the Universe.