In Malaysia, a country known for its multicultural and multi-religious fabric, Islamic schools have long been a part of the educational landscape – offering an alternative approach to conventional education.As these schools evolve, some institutions are taking a more modern approach to Islamic education by combining global academic standards with the principles of faith.
Kiddy123 speaks with Mr. Djohann Iskandar Kwan Abdullah, principal of Seven Skies Islamic International School, to explore the role of faith-based education today and its impact on nurturing future generations.
Tell us more about yourself.
I’ve been in the education industry for over 30 years – 34 to be exact. It was my late mother who inspired me to become an educator, as she always thought my brother and I would make great teachers. From a background in engineering, I switched to a teaching college and became a government teacher in 1990, before transitioning to the private sector in 2000. I’ve been part of various private schools before taking on this role at Seven Skies in 2021.
Share with us the vision behind Seven Skies Islamic International School.
We’ve always believed in a holistic approach that weaves religious teachings, moral values, and character development into every aspect of the learning experience. Our guiding principle, “Character before Excellence”, emphasises how important it is to nurture students who are not only academically successful, but also morally upright and spiritually grounded. Personally, I believe that if you can cultivate the right character, everything else will fall into place.
How do you define faith-based education in the context of Islam?
Faith-based education in Malaysia is not new, as we have a well-established system of both public and private Islamic schools. Public institutions, like sekolah agama, may serve middle and lower-income groups who may not have the financial means to access private education. Many of these students also attend sekolah agama programmes before or after regular school hours to supplement their religious studies.
What we offer at Seven Skies is a centralised educational approach that integrates faith into every aspect of the learning experience. Unlike secular schools, which generally maintain a neutral stance on religion, we ground our education in an Islamic worldview. Secular education often focuses primarily on career preparation, while faith-based education goes beyond that by nurturing spiritual growth and emphasising character development. Our aim is to produce individuals who not only excel academically but also embody the values of their faith in every aspect of their lives.
For instance, when we teach Mathematics or English, our approach naturally incorporates Islamic values, without being overbearing or dogmatic. We do this by framing lessons in a way that aligns with Islamic principles, ensuring that even in subjects like science, we can relate it back to the teachings of Islam. When we discuss how plants obtain their food through photosynthesis, we don’t just look at it from a scientific perspective but also tie it into Islamic teachings about the creation of the world.
The idea behind this approach came from our chairman, who believes that education is more than just academics. He wanted to establish a foundation rooted in faith, as having a strong religious grounding is crucial to setting students on the right path. That’s why we strive to infuse faith into all our subjects and ensure that our students see the world through a holistic lens.
How important do you think faith-based education is today?
It is extremely important, as it provides students with a strong moral compass. In today’s world, we often see tragic news stories involving individuals making harmful choices, including some Muslims. This highlights the need for a deeper understanding of faith and the importance of practising it sincerely.
We want to lay a strong foundation of Islamic values so that students know what is right and wrong from a young age. When they encounter challenges in the future, they will have the inner strength to make ethical decisions. While education can prepare them with knowledge, I think it’s also crucial for all stakeholders, whether from the education sector or otherwise, to work together to ensure these values remain strong.
The events we organise tie back to character development and religious values. For example, we have a 100 Muslim Heroes Annual Exhibition event to shine the spotlight on Islamic figures in history and what we can learn from them, which helps the students in their understanding. Knowledge and information will not take one far if they do not practise it.
Could you share with us some key trends that you're seeing in the industry?
The local market has been growing quickly. When we (Seven Skies) first started off, most of our students were children of expatriates working in Malaysia, and this community has strongly supported us from the very beginning of our journey. Today, it is about 60% local, and 40% expatriates. We’re glad to see an uptick of interest among Malaysian parents in the last two years, especially amongst professionals, as it shows they are keen to have their children take part in a holistic Islamic-based international education.
What role do you think faith-based education plays in nation-building?
Faith-based education plays a significant role as it shapes how we build communities, which ultimately contributes to the nation’s growth. Malaysia is uniquely diverse, with each community having its own set of religious beliefs to turn to, no matter what background we come from.
As for me, I’m a revert Chinese Muslim. I grew up just a stone’s throw away from the Penang State Mosque, and I remember being mesmerised by the call to prayer. I found it so calming and beautiful, yet never imagined that I would one day embrace Islam myself. But faith has its way of guiding us, and that journey eventually led me to where I am today.
Before joining an Islamic international school, I was in secular institutions where religion wasn’t a very important part of the curriculum. It was a different environment, but it taught me valuable lessons. Now, being in a faith-based school, I see how both approaches can contribute to the nation.
In a country like Malaysia, where there is often debate on why things are done a certain way, religion tends to be at the heart of many discussions. I firmly believe that all faiths, at their core, teach us to be good people. We just need to work together and find common ground to build a stronger, more united nation. There’s much we can learn from one another if we take the time to understand and respect our differences.
