A Kaduna-based Islamic scholar and education expert, Professor Yahaya Muhammad Mujahid, has said schools should not be treated as business enterprises but as institutions for imparting knowledge, instilling morals, and providing direction to future generations.
Prof. Mujahid stated this while speaking at the graduation, speech, and prize-giving day ceremony of Al-Mustaqeem Integrated Schools, Doka, Kaduna, weekend.
He stated the critical roles of both schools and parents in shaping morally sound and globally competitive individuals.
He said the purpose of a school is not to generate profit, but to nurture and empower students for the global stage.
Prof. Mujahid criticised the commercialisation of education, which often leaves behind talented children from less privileged backgrounds.
He urged schools to prioritise knowledge and moral training over profit, noting that every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of their financial background.
He likened schools to hospitals, stating that teachers should treat students like patients, listening, diagnosing, and responding with the right approach and not just mechanically delivering lessons.
“We used to have guidance and counseling offices in schools. Now, they are nearly non-existent. These structures are vital because education is not just about teaching; it’s about character transformation,” he said.
In a presentation focused on “The Role of Islamic-Oriented Schools and Parents in Nurturing Global Ambassadors,” the Islamic Scholar addressed the popular misconception surrounding the Islamisation of knowledge, emphasizing that Islam recognizes no distinction between religious and secular knowledge.
“Western education” merely describes knowledge that either ends with worldly benefit or originated from non-Islamic traditions.
“According to the history of knowledge, Muslims were pioneers in various disciplines even when Europe was still in the Dark Ages,” he said.