What is the ruling on combining the first grade with the second in some rural schools, thereby increasing the effort and responsibility of the teacher?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : In some educational regions, O Shaykh, it happens that in particular in the villages, some schools have a small number of students, so it happens that classes are combined with each other, for example: the first grade is combined with the second grade, and the teacher bears a greater responsibility than another teacher. So I do not know, O Shaykh, what is the criterion in this matter?
The Shaykh : But may Allah reward you, how is a class combined with another class when the subjects differ?
The questioner : It is happening now, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : This is not permissible, may Allah reward you, because the curriculum of these students is not the curriculum of those students, so there must be some disruption and deficiency.
The questioner : And it has happened.
The Shaykh : Then I know, indeed I am certain, that the Ministry does not approve of this, because that means the man will drop half of the periods from himself, if the classes are equal in size. So it is obligatory that each class be taught separately, even if there is only one student or one female student in the class.
The questioner : This, O Shaykh, is a system issued by the Education Department itself.
The Shaykh : Hm?
The questioner : The Education Department issues it due to the small number of students, for example, nine students.
The Shaykh : It does not contradict [the ruling] if they issue it, for they would not have issued it unless they had known the solution. But my point is if the matter is contrary to the system of the Ministry of Education, then it is not permissible.
The questioner : Well, the teacher, O Shaykh, teaches these subjects and is given twenty-four periods, which amounts to eight forty-minute periods, meaning he attends two periods in one lesson. For example, if the first and second grades are combined, I am forced to attend two lessons.
The Shaykh : But in reality, there is harm to the students. Now, the first-grade students will listen to the second-grade curriculum. But if the second-grade students listen to the first-grade curriculum, it is less severe, because they are studying something that has already passed them and they have understood it. But the problem is if the second-grade curriculum is taught in front of the first-grade students, how can this be?
The questioner : Well, the teacher, O Shaykh, after permission, the teacher now who bears this full responsibility, if he falls short in some aspect, for example.
The Shaykh : If he is unable to do this work, he tells them, "I am not able; I want to teach each class separately."
The questioner : He said this, he said, "I am not able," but he was forced to teach.
The Shaykh : By Allah, in any case, the Ministry of Education will solve this problem.
May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : In some educational regions, O Shaykh, it happens that in particular in the villages, some schools have a small number of students, so it happens that classes are combined with each other, for example: the first grade is combined with the second grade, and the teacher bears a greater responsibility than another teacher. So I do not know, O Shaykh, what is the criterion in this matter?
The Shaykh : But may Allah reward you, how is a class combined with another class when the subjects differ?
The questioner : It is happening now, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : This is not permissible, may Allah reward you, because the curriculum of these students is not the curriculum of those students, so there must be some disruption and deficiency.
The questioner : And it has happened.
The Shaykh : Then I know, indeed I am certain, that the Ministry does not approve of this, because that means the man will drop half of the periods from himself, if the classes are equal in size. So it is obligatory that each class be taught separately, even if there is only one student or one female student in the class.
The questioner : This, O Shaykh, is a system issued by the Education Department itself.
The Shaykh : Hm?
The questioner : The Education Department issues it due to the small number of students, for example, nine students.
The Shaykh : It does not contradict [the ruling] if they issue it, for they would not have issued it unless they had known the solution. But my point is if the matter is contrary to the system of the Ministry of Education, then it is not permissible.
The questioner : Well, the teacher, O Shaykh, teaches these subjects and is given twenty-four periods, which amounts to eight forty-minute periods, meaning he attends two periods in one lesson. For example, if the first and second grades are combined, I am forced to attend two lessons.
The Shaykh : But in reality, there is harm to the students. Now, the first-grade students will listen to the second-grade curriculum. But if the second-grade students listen to the first-grade curriculum, it is less severe, because they are studying something that has already passed them and they have understood it. But the problem is if the second-grade curriculum is taught in front of the first-grade students, how can this be?
The questioner : Well, the teacher, O Shaykh, after permission, the teacher now who bears this full responsibility, if he falls short in some aspect, for example.
The Shaykh : If he is unable to do this work, he tells them, "I am not able; I want to teach each class separately."
The questioner : He said this, he said, "I am not able," but he was forced to teach.
The Shaykh : By Allah, in any case, the Ministry of Education will solve this problem.