Toronto Metropolitan Centre for Immigration and Settlement (TMCIS) Exploring the Motives for Homeschooling Among Muslim Immigrant Parents in Ontario

Join us for an in-person Lunch & Learn event co-hosted by Toronto Metropolitan Centre for Immigration and Settlement (TMCIS) TMCIS and the Graduate Program in Immigration and Settlement Studies (ISS) showcasing a major research paper (MRP) recently completed by ISS student Sara Qazimllari. The MRP embodies the results of the student's research program and exposes the work to scholarly criticism.

Sara's MRP entitled "Exploring the Motives for Homeschooling Among Muslim Immigrant Parents in Ontario" expands knowledge on Muslim immigrant participation in the Canadian educational system and seeks to understand what factors contribute to the decision to homeschool among Muslim immigrant parents.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six Muslim parents, both first and second-generation immigrants in Ontario, whose children are not attending public or private schools. Participants in the study primarily opted for homeschooling for two main considerations: first, to choose an alternative method that offers a more tailored education beyond the confines of traditional educational institutions; and second, to provide an educational experience that aligns with their Islamic values, bypassing the limitations they perceive in traditional Islamic schools.

ISS Graduate Program Director Dr. Henry Parada and TMCIS Academic Director Dr. Zhixi Zhuang will co-chair this presentation.

A light lunch will be served.

SARA QAZIMLLARI is a graduating M.A. candidate specializing in Immigration and Settlement Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from McMaster University. Sara's academic focus centers on the experiences of immigrant children and youth, educational pathways, and labor market integration for newcomers.

During her internship at the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration (CERC Migration), she deepened her passion for academic inquiry, primarily through qualitative research methodologies. However, her recent summer position at the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) expanded her research interests to include quantitative approaches as well.

Outside the realm of academia, Sara is committed to giving back to her community. She has dedicated her time to teaching first and second-generation immigrant children in weekend educational programs.

Sara is thrilled to present her research, "Exploring the Motives for Homeschooling Among Muslim Immigrant Parents in Ontario," at the upcoming Lunch and Learn event. She eagerly anticipates the opportunity to engage with fellow researchers and students in the field of Immigration and Settlement Studies.