Since the founding of Al Ihsan Schools in 2019, the Tafakkur Program has been an essential part of our educational journey, as we sought to provide an educational experience that enhances deep thinking, develops a balanced Islamic Character, and instills in our students the spirit of creativity and innovation. After six years of application, it has become clear that this program is not merely a school curriculum, but an integrated educational experience that contributes to Building the student's Character in a positive and sustainable way.

We, as an administration and teaching staff, feel overwhelming happiness when we pass through the classrooms while the program is being delivered, as we notice a clear difference in the students' interaction. We find them enthusiastic, enjoying learning, and more engaged in intellectual discussions, which reflects the impact of this program on their way of thinking and their daily behavior. We can see the tangible impact of this program in Building our students' Characters, as they have become more balanced, more capable of critical thinking, and more aware of their values, principles, and abilities.

The program is applied in a comprehensive manner, taught by specialized teachers who teach nothing else, to ensure the maximum possible benefit. It is also delivered in both Arabic and English to include all our students from the kindergarten stage up to Grade 5, at a rate of two to three Tafakkur Sessions weekly, which strengthens its impact and makes it an integral part of their educational journey. In addition, the application of the program is not limited to the school only, but extends to include parents through content directed to them, which ensures doubling the impact and supporting students comprehensively in the school and home environments.

The reason we chose this program in the first place, and what truly distinguishes it, is the continuous support from the institution responsible for it, through training, supervision, follow up, periodic evaluation, and continuous development to ensure it is applied in the best possible way.

The Tafakkur Program is one of the essential pillars of our educational vision, as it contributes directly to Building an integrated Islamic Character that combines values and morals, creativity and innovation, and critical and inspiring thinking. Most importantly, it is delivered from early age stages, which makes it more impactful and sustainable, as it helps instill the foundations of sound thinking and develop minds from a young age. We also deliver it to students of more than 60 nationalities in our school, which reflects its ability to adapt to different cultural backgrounds and strengthen mutual understanding among students.

At a time when education faces increasing challenges in achieving a balance between academic and educational aspects, the Tafakkur Program represents a unique and influential model that other educational institutions can benefit from. From this standpoint, we invite international schools and educational incubators to adopt this program and make it part of their educational curricula, for its positive impact in Building generations distinguished intellectually and morally. We also extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to developing this program and making it a successful educational experience.

Baraa Abdulkarim Bakkar
General Director
Al Ihsan International Schools - Turkey