| Aziz Idris |
IT IS the duty for Muslim parents to send their children to religious school, and an obligation for the Brunei Government to provide adequate infrastructure for the growing number of students, said the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman yesterday, during a visit to Pengiran Anak Puteri Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah Religious School, Berakas.
The minister also reminded parents that it is obligatory for every Muslim child – aged seven years and above and until the age of 15 – residing in Brunei Darussalam to be enrolled in pre-school and primary religious education, in conforming to the Compulsory Religious Education Order of 2012, as announced by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in a titah for Teacher’s Day 2012.
The order emphasises mandatory religious education for children born on or after January 1, 2006, with one or both parents Brunei citizens or permanent residents.
The minister said that he was pleased to note an increase from 2,600 religious school students in 2016 to 2,764 this year.
“We (the Ministry of Religious Affairs) will continue to provide the infrastructure to facilitate the growing number of students every year. It is the responsibility of His Majesty’s Government to ensure that Muslim children receive basic knowledge of Islam – Fardhu Ain – which refers to obligatory acts that must be performed by each individual Muslim, including prayer, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs will closely monitor all religious schools through the Islamic Studies Department, on matters related to secondary school-level religious studies, or Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK).
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs talking to a student during the visit. – PHOTOS: MUIZ MATDANI
The minister speaking to the media.
The Minister of Religious Affairs speaking with religious teachers about the teaching and learning methods of the students.
The minister explained that when Brunei students complete Primary 6 at religious school, IRK is the only form of religious education taught at secondary level, except for those exclusively pursuing Islamic studies at specialised schools.
“I think it’s about time that we consider filling in this gap, by establishing religious schools on a secondary level,” he said.
The minister’s delegation also visited the Pengiran Anak Puteri Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah Religious School, where they were received by Hajah Jamaliah binti Haji Mohd Yassin, the school’s Headmistress.
During the visit, the minister observed the teaching methods for students in Primary 4-6, which was followed by a closed-door meeting between the minister’s delegation and the school’s teaching staff.
The Islamic Studies Department began pre-school registration at all religious schools in four districts yesterday, recording a total of 4,117 students for Brunei-Muara District, 882 in Belait District, 614 in Tutong District and 151 in Temburong District, bringing the total to 5,764 religious school students for 2017.
The post Muslim parents must ensure their children attend religious school, says minister appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.