1. Article from Federation Samachar of Feb/March 1962 - Education and our Youth

2. Photograph of Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat Managing Committee elected in 1974

EDUCATION AND OUR YOUTH

Raza M. Devji, B. Sc (Econ), London

It is encouraging in see that our community is taking the issue of education pretty seriously.  From the short report published in the journal of the recent Supreme Council meeting held in Dar es Salaam, it was evident that the delegates paid special attention to the question of secondary education and concluded that it may prove necessary to open our own secondary schools in the main centres of East Africa, This scheme involves a heavy financial investment and recurrent expenditure, and we all will have to be prepared to contribute substantially to make it a real success. The Supreme Council or the secretariat should not be expected to take all the initiative and to provide every penny towards running the projects; local societies should raise most of the fund and should ask the secretarial for guidance and marginal financing. While pursuing such big schemes many of us often overlook some modest programmes which could immediately be started with existing facilities and small –scale investment and the purpose of this article is to explore some of these possibilities. This programmes arc not meant to replace the big schemes but should supplement them.

The wind of change blowing for East Africa will affect all of us. It is difficult to say which section of the community will be hit most by it. But the “Africanization" of the services is bound to hit those members, performing routine duties where little skill or education is required. Some of them may lose their jobs and may find it difficult to get other jobs. Perhaps the possession of a little more qualification or training may improve their chances of either getting better jobs or retaining the same ones in the face of strong competition. Given the will, it is not very difficult to start short-term courses like Typing, Shorthand, Accounts, Costing, operating business machines etc.  In many of the big centres we have our own buildings like schools, community halls, clubs, and Imambaras which are not used all hours of the day. Local societies with a few active members could start small classes in the evenings and keep qualified instructors, part of whose salaries could be paid by the secretarial. To give a practical example: We have a big primary school in Kampala where our young people gather in the evenings to play sports. Classes could easily be started with the aid of a few typewriters and some able teachers. Perhaps the main reason why such classes are not started is because our members are not made aware of the importance of such education. Active workers who decide to put such schemes into operation often meet with little encouragement and too many obstacles. With due respect to the delegates and councillors, very few of them take pains to inform the members the gravity of the situation.

It is high time our members are informed where they stand and what are the best ways to minimise the pain of change. All channels, including the pulpit, should be used to this end. Under the able leadership of our President, two or three active, respected leaders could tour round the territories giving lectures and encouraging local societies to start some schemes at a modest level. 1962 may be termed “Education Years.' Donors may lie exerted to pay for education. For instance, those parents intending to make feasts during marriages (lest, I am misunderstood, I am not referring to Nyaaz) may be persuaded to give donations to schools or other educational institutions. With a bit of planning, determination and cooperation we can achieve quite a lot. The Secretariat should take an initiative in this matter.

In conclusion, I wish to make a direct appeal to all the active workers in this field who deserve the utmost respect. Please do not give up if you meet with lot obstacles, difficulties, rebuffs and ridicule. Through personal experience, I know how frustrating: it is to find that your work is not being appreciated and many people make destructive criticisms without ever suggesting alternatives. At such a point of disillusionment it is too easy to give up the objects, but that step may not be in the best interest of the community. The community needs you and you should do everything in your power to run such projects. We all are bound to make mistakes, and it is good to learn from them so that we do not repeat them. And a special words to those members who have had the privilege of taking higher education. Perhaps the community needs you now more than ever. Yon can help in organising and running such schemes. You can enrich the societies with your experience of similar societies overseas and give them the much-needed guidance on educational issues. Whether you admit it or not, you owe a special debt to the society which you can pay adequately by working for the upliftment of our community.

Standing L to R: Saleh Jacksi, Mustafa Jaffer, Akber Jessa, Murtaza Bandali, Mohamedhussein Versi,
Marhum Satchu Gulamali Abdulrasul, Roshan Fazal
Sitting L to R: Badaami (Guest from India), Marhum Sherali Ladha, Marhum ....... Walji, Pyarali Rustom, Taki Rajwani

Any suggestions/comments can be sent to federation@raha.com