World

Ramadan 2024: Here's how US Muslim students are fasting during Islamic holy month

Muslim students are minority in US schools but they are still major part of communities

By Web Desk
March 18, 2024
A Muslim faithful student is pictured in her classroom at the La Reussite Muslim school on September 19, 2013 in Aubervilliers, outside Paris. — AFP
A Muslim faithful student is pictured in her classroom at the La Reussite Muslim school on September 19, 2013 in Aubervilliers, outside Paris. — AFP

Though Muslim students are a minority in many US school districts, they are still a major presence in some communities, prompting public schools to be more attentive to their needs during the holy month of Ramadan

Ramadan is a Islamic holy month, during which Muslims fast from dawn-to-sundown.

For instance, in Dearborn, Michigan with nearly half the 110,000 residents being of Arab descent, public school teachers and staff works to make things easier for students observing Ramadan.

“We allow students on their own to practice their faith as long as it’s not a disruption to the school day,” said Dearborn Schools spokesperson David Mustonen. “We also try to find other spaces or activities in the school during lunch for those students who may be fasting.”

However, students are still required to complete all assignments, according to Mustonen, reported Associated Press.

On the other hand, St Paul, Minnesota, East African Elementary Magnet School has set aside space in the library where students who are fasting can spend the break doing other activities like reading, said principal Abdisalam Adam.

The school also aims to reinforce cultural and linguistic connections with Somalia and other East African countries. About 90% of the students are Somali Muslims, said Adam.