Parents consider sending kids to new Islamic high shool

Parents of Grade 8 children are still considering whether to take a chance on a new Islamic high school in Windsor.

To get off the ground in September, backers of the new high school say they need at least 10 students to register.

The board held another open house for parents Thursday night, this time at the Al Hijra Academy, one of Windsor's private Islamic elementary schools.

Rubina Waqar is on Al Hijra's board, and says parents considering sending kids to the proposed Islamic high school have concerns.

"Class sizes, what electives are available, what opportunities are there available for these children if they choose to go to a class where it's such a small size right now. That's what I think their biggest concern is," Waqar said.

The high school will begin with a Grade 9 class only, at the Rose City Islamic Centre on Windsor's east side.

In addition to the religious instruction, the school will offer a co-op placement every summer, which will start in Grade 9.

Students will learn three languages: English, French and Arabic.

It will also teach students about personal finance.

Waqar admits it's tough to convince parents and Grade 8 students to sign on to be part of a new school, when their friends may be going elsewhere.

"But this is how the schools started in other places in Ontario or Canada or America. They started from a small group of kids," she said. "Just like Al Hijra today, we're over 250 students, [it] started with a very small number of students.

"Once we show the community that these kids are graduating and doing well, it just starts growing."