ISAA has been invited to attend Civics Education & Social Cohesion Roundtable being hosted by the Governor-General at her residence Government House Canberra July 10 from 10.30 to 3.00.
Abdullah Khan as President, Osman Karolia as Vice President and Mohammed Taksim as Secretary General attended this roundtable and I spoke on behalf of the association.
Abdullah Khan’s Statement on Civics Education and Social Cohesion Roundtable
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute on behalf of the Islamic Schools Association of Australia, representing Islamic schools educating more than 60,000 students across Australia.
For over forty years, ISAA schools have been committed to developing students who are not only academically successful but also informed, ethical and engaged Australian citizens. We believe civics education is about more than understanding Parliament, elections and government—it is about preparing young people to participate responsibly in our democracy and contribute to the common good.
A distinctive feature of Islamic schools is the integration of civics with character education. The Islamic concept of adab emphasises respect, responsibility, justice, honesty, compassion and service to others. These values complement Australia’s democratic principles and help students become active, respectful and responsible citizens.
Beyond the classroom, our students participate in leadership programs, volunteering, community service, intercultural and interfaith initiatives, and partnerships with local communities and civic institutions. These experiences strengthen social cohesion by building understanding, belonging and mutual respect across Australia’s diverse society.
We believe civics education can be strengthened by giving greater emphasis to three interconnected elements: civic understanding, civic participation and civic virtue. Students need to understand our democratic institutions, but they also need opportunities to practise citizenship through service, leadership and community engagement, while developing the ethical character that sustains a healthy democracy.
At a time when our nation continues to confront hate speech and growing social division, our focus should be on bringing all Australians together. Social cohesion is a shared responsibility. An attack on one community is an attack on us all, because it weakens the values that unite our nation. Building an inclusive, respectful and cohesive Australia is a joint endeavour that requires governments, schools, families, faith communities and the wider society to work together.
ISAA therefore encourages greater support for intercultural and interfaith education, stronger media literacy, and recognition of the positive contribution that faith communities make in promoting responsible citizenship and social cohesion.
