Worst Idea of the Week

Fri, Feb 1, 2008 at 10:12:32 am PST

In the name of “sensitivity,” the British government is going to allow Islamic schools to conduct their own inspections.

Private Muslim schools have been given the power to police themselves, despite widespread fears over religious segregation, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

In a controversial move, they have won the right to appoint their own Ofsted-style inspectors. A new independent watchdog has been set up to be more “sensitive” toward Islamic education.

The decision comes despite concerns some private Muslim schools are already failing to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

Barry Sheerman, the chairman of the Commons schools select committee, told MPs last month local councils were finding it “difficult to know what is going on in some faith schools - particularly Muslim schools”.

But religious leaders defended the move, saying the curriculum and religious traditions in faith schools demand specialist knowledge.