First standalone Islamic school in south Edmonton breaks ground
With thousands of students waiting to get into Islamic schools, community leaders say need is great
An Edmonton community is one step closer to achieving its dream after breaking ground Wednesday at the city's first standalone Islamic school on the south side.
The Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Academy's future facility, spanning nearly 40 acres at 8615 41st Ave., surrounded by canola fields and farmland, is slated to open its doors in September 2026.
"The need is huge," said Dr. Osama Namaruish, president of the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Centre, as cranes and bulldozers rumbled behind him.
"There are other Islamic schools, mostly in the north side. The waiting time is in the thousands."
With 120 students, the academy's current independent K-9 school operates out of the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Centre (OIAC) on Parsons Road.
Other Islamic schools in south Edmonton operate out of leased spaces, warehouses and mosques, but this will be the first purpose-built school in the area, an OIAC spokesperson told CBC.
Plans for the future $30 million academy include 22 classrooms, sports fields, a prayer hall for 300 worshippers, a commercial kitchen and a community centre.
The money to build the new facility is being raised through a fundraising campaign and private donations.
"We want to see a proper school that has proper sport fields that is welcoming to the community, Muslims and non-Muslims," Namaruish said.
"It's a place where people will socialize, people will meet, some interfaith dialogue will happen and people will talk to each other and understand each other."
According to OIAC, more than 5,000 Muslim students live south of 23rd Avenue.
Among them is Daniyaal Saeed, 13, whose commute time to the Parsons Road location in heavy traffic can take as long as 30 minutes each way.
But for Saeed, it's worth it.
"We got to learn about our religion, our history, everything," Saeed told CBC News.
"Everybody knows each other. Everybody's kind to each other. They don't hate on religions, because we all have the same religion."
Coun. Keren Tang said the new school will also help to alleviate the pressures of population growth in Ward Karhiio.
"It responds to a bit of the growth pressure here. It responds to some of the school challenges that we're talking about and I think it's going to add to the overall community," Teng said.
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