Gov't Looking To Expand Quran, Tahfiz Education In Primary Schools - Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- The government is looking to expand al-Quran and tahfiz education among primary school pupils next year, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, he had held a meeting with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek over the matter last week.

He said the discussion was important as the proposal required curriculum alignment to ensure that pre-tahfiz learning implemented at preschools under the Department of Community Development (KEMAS) could be continued from Year One to Year Six.

“We want the pre-tahfiz learning at KEMAS preschools to be continued at the primary school level to avoid learning loss,” he said when officiating the opening of Maahad Tahfiz AlMashrafe in Batu Caves here tonight.

When met by reporters later, Ahmad Zahid said his ministry had also proposed that Muslim pupils be given additional classes to ensure that Quran memorisation could be continued.

Asked whether the implementation of the initiative would involve the recruitment of additional religious teachers, Ahmad Zahid said the existing teaching staff at KEMAS preschools were sufficient, while implementation at national schools would depend on the consideration of the Education Ministry.

He said efforts to expand tahfiz education were part of the responsibility and initiative to strengthen Islamic education among the younger generation, and had no political motive.

In a related development, Ahmad Zahid said an agreement had also been reached with Fadhlina to align the role of KEMAS as feeder schools to national schools, with emphasis on mastery of basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills.

-- BERNAMA