Accra: Dr Haruna Zagoon-Sayeed, a senior academic, has called for urgent and far-reaching reforms in Islamic education to improve outcomes for Muslim children in Ghana. He noted that the fragmented approach to managing Muslim educational affairs continued to undermine progress within the community.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Zagoon-Sayeed spoke at the 2026 Hijra Club Ramadan Lectures at the National Mosque Complex Auditorium in Accra. He emphasized that no single Islamic organization or sect had the capacity to address the deep-rooted challenges facing Muslim learners. He asserted that only a unified and coordinated effort could yield the transformational results needed to strengthen educational outcomes for Muslim children across the country.
Dr Zagoon-Sayeed highlighted the risks of internal divisions, cautioning that such divisions could leave communities marginalized. He pointed out that Muslims possessed significant resources but often deployed them in isolated, sectarian ways that diluted their impact. He urged stakeholders to adopt a collective vision and work toward integrated solutions benefiting all Muslim communities nationwide.
He also stressed the need for parenting committees to guide mothers and fathers on their responsibilities, noting the lack of follow-up on children's school attendance and academic progress by fathers, which contributes to poor performance. Dr Zagoon-Sayeed advocated for a revival of the model Islamic school initiative to strengthen quality and provide a template for nationwide improvement.
Dr Zagoon-Sayeed noted that out of more than 2,000 Islamic schools, about 40 were initially selected to receive enhanced learning facilities, textbooks, and infrastructure, leading to measurable improvements. However, sustaining these gains had been difficult due to inadequate funding and limited community support.
He appealed to Muslim organizations, philanthropists, and development partners to revive support for the model school project, stressing its importance in preserving Islamic identity while delivering quality modern education. Dr Zagoon-Sayeed encouraged stronger collaboration between groups working on similar projects to pool resources and avoid duplicating efforts.
He also called on community leaders to guide government assistance toward targeted educational needs and stressed the importance of prioritizing infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher development. Dr Zagoon-Sayeed expressed optimism that with unity, strategic planning, and strengthened parental engagement, Muslim communities in Ghana could overcome existing educational challenges and build a resilient foundation for future generations.