The number of students attending Victorian Islamic schools has more than doubled in eight years, with almost 8000 kids now attending the religious schools.
In 2007, there were 3900 students enrolled in five Islamic schools. This year there are 7910 students in seven schools.
That represents a 103 per cent increase, contributing to a 16 per cent overall increase in independent school enrolments.
A Herald Sun analysis of Department of Education and Training data shows during the same eight years, Victoria’s entire school student population grew by just 9 per cent.
Jewish schools grew by 4 per cent and Catholic schools by 13 per cent.
Islamic Council of Victoria general manager Nail Aykan said Islamic schools provide a one-stop shop of language, academic study and religious values.
“The fact that these schools are growing is a good sign,” he said.
Mr Aykan said the Muslim population was youthful and growing quickly, and that was contributing to the rapid growth.
He said 2011 census data showed the Muslim population’s annual growth rate was 8 per cent.
“Approximately a third of the Muslim population are children. The growth in demand for these schools is in the 0-14 range,” he said.
Mr Aykan said primary level fees at his daughter’s school were around $2000 and rates for Year 12 were capped at about $5000, making it within reach for many Muslims, Mr Aykan said.
He sent his daughter to an Islamic primary school partly because of his own childhood experience in the days when there were no Islamic schools.
“I came to Australia as a 5 year old in 1973 from Turkey. My parents sent me to Turkish language school on a Saturday and to religious instruction on a Sunday. I was going to school seven days a week. I wouldn’t want my kids to go through that,” he said.
Monash University sociology of religion professor Gary Bouma said the rapid growth indicated a community establishing itself.
“That, for Australia, is totally normal. It’s what Catholics and Protestants have done,” he said, adding he was not surprised at the rise.
“The Muslim community is young and therefore more likely to have babies,” he said.
Mr Bouma expected low-fee Christian schools were another fast-growing area.
The figures showed Islamic school enrolments at East Preston Islamic College, The Islamic College of Melbourne, Minaret College, Al-Taqwa College, Darul Ulum College of Victoria, Ilim College of Australia and Al Siraat College represented about 0.8 per cent of the 2015 Victorian school population.