Islamic high school shut in Toronto for 'administrative, financial reasons'

With just two weeks before the school year begins, an Islamic high school in Toronto has been shut down citing 'administrative and financial reasons'.

Management of the Islamic Foundation School, on Nugget Avenue in Scarborough on Monday, sent parents an email saying “administrative and financial issues” led to the closure of the school.

"There are some other issues, some internal issues involved here," an employee of the Foundation told bdnews24.com on condition of anonymity. 

"You better talk to the school principal or foundation officials for more information," she added, confirming the management decision over the phone.

News of the closure has come as a shock to parents and the 150 affected students, many of whom have attended it since they were in elementary school. The school was established about a decade ago.

The Foundation's elementary school will remain open.

The school management said the closure of the high school is related to “financial issues,” but the union representing teachers believes the move was a form of “reprisal” against employees who recently unionised. The school management, however, denied the allegation. 

“This is so unfair,” Anas Thakor, who is entering Grade 12, told the Toronto Srat newspaper.

“It was supposed to be such an important year for us,” said Thakor, who inquired at the local Catholic school on Monday after hearing the news, but was told there might not be space to register so late in the summer.

“Chances are I will have to go somewhere far from home, and my friends,” he said.

The schools in Ontario are reopening on Sept 1 after the summer vacation.

Rumours about the closure had been swirling for weeks, but the news was confirmed at a heated parents’ meeting Sunday evening.

“We’re still absorbing the shock. We’re sad. We’re very disappointed,” said Jawad Jafry, who has had two children graduate from the high school. His daughter Nafeesah was to start Grade 12 this year, the Star reported.