Islamia celebrates 25 years

Islamia Primary School principal Dilshad Mowzer says pupils receive a holistic education.

Islamia Primary School is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

To mark the occasion, current and former pupils, teachers, friends and family came to school dressed in costumes themed “The greatest showman” on Friday November 2.

The school comes from the legacy of what was previously known as Habibia College, which was founded in 1984 as an all-girls school for grades 8 and 9. Two years later the Habibia Boys’ College was formed.

In 1993 the school’s director, Moulana Alie Adam, opened Islamia Primary School and had their first Grade 1 class. A year later both high school’s changed their names to Islamia College.

The school, which is situated in Goven Mbeki Road, in Lansdowne, is headed by principal, Dilshad Mowzer, and has 785 pupils from grades 1 to 6. It is on the same grounds as the girls’ and boys’ high schools.

The school was first based in Johnson Road in Athlone and moved in sections, starting in 1999.

Ms Mowzer started her journey at the school in 1987 as a physical science teacher at the girls’ college. She then became deputy principal in 1992 and principal of the primary school in 1996.

She said the school offers holistic education as it incorporates academic and Islamic education, which is integrated into the timetable.

She said the challenges at the school include a lack of space.

“We need bigger premises because the school has grown so much since it started. We also need space for sports facilities, perhaps different campuses for the different schools. Soon they will be building the pre-school and madrassa here as well,” she said.

The school also has a pupil support group, which includes a speech therapist, occupational therapist, educational psychologist, and a learner support teacher. They hope to bring a physiologist on board.

Ms Mowzer said besides offering a holistic education, the school takes part in inter-school and inter-house athletics. It offers extra mural activities such as netball, soccer, rugby, basket ball, softball, ballet, robotics, karate, arts and crafts, speech and drama, and curious cubs, and competes in Nasheed competitions.

“Our pupils go from here and do exceptionally well at high school and we always keep track of them when going off to university. We offer an all encompassing based education so that when children leave they can do homework and relax at home instead of still having to go to madrassa. They do have an extended day but they get a holistic package,” she said.

She said the school’s success relies on the support of parents who never shy away from fundraisers or school projects.

Islamia Primary School also has an outreach programme through which they donate sandwiches to Summit Primary School every Wednesday; and give pupils at Eros School for Children with Cerebral Palsy outfits for Eid and food hampers to the family.

“When disasters occur such as floods or fires our school also becomes a station for donations to collect relief items. We do a huge outreach once per term,” said Ms Mowzer.

Khadija Adams, who matriculated from Islamia Girls’ High School in 1993, said she is extremely proud of the school’s achievement.

“I enjoyed my time at the school even though there was a lack of facilities and I enjoyed all my subjects. The school has come a long way and still more needs to be done,” she said.