Norway's first Islamic high school

The Norwegian Government has given Muslims in Norway permission to establish the first Islamic high school in the country. The school will be for children aged 6-16 years of age.

The permission is for up to 500 children and 85% of the running costs of the school will be met by the Government. The school will follow the the general curriculum for Government schools in Norway and graduating children will have the same qualifications as their state school peers but Islamic attitudes and morals will be expressed in the school and Islam will be the principal religion taught rather than Christianity.

"Christianity is a cumpulsory subject aiming to educate and raise children in Christain tradition so the Islamic school is most needed indeed" said Waqaas Waheed, who is in charge of the project to build the school in Oslo.

He also called for help from the international Muslim community as 15% of the costs of establishing and running the school and also some building expenses will have to be met by the Muslim community.

The school has the support of all the major Islamic institutions in Norway. The Urtehagan Islamic Trust, which has been given this support by the Norwegian Government, already operates an Islamic kindergarten and supplementary classes.