GOVT TARGETS ALL KEMAS NURSERIES TO IMPLEMENT PRE-TAHFIZ NURSERY PROG BY 2030

LIPIS, June 29 (Bernama) -- The government through the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) is targeting the Community Development Department (KEMAS) throughout the country including Sabah and Sarawak to implement the pre-tahfiz nursery programme by 2030.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid said the programme, which aims to empower children with al-Quran education, will use the Pahang Foundation, Tun Abdul Razak Education Foundation (PINTAR) and KEMAS modules.

"I presented (the proposal) to the Sultan of Pahang (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah) who was at that time, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and His Majesty then suggested that the Kemas pre-tahfiz implemented by the Pahang Foundation could be used.

"Hopefully this (KEMAS pre-tahfiz kindergarten programme) will be implemented. As for (those) non-Islamic methods, there are other methods for such children. However, I think the children of Muslims, especially rural areas, really need this teaching," he said.

Ahmad Zahid who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development was speaking at the Lipis District Community Engagement Programme at Dewan Residen, Kuala Lipis, here today.

He said for that purpose, the government will establish a collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) to teach teachers who do not have a religious education background to teach Quran and Islam.

"In other words, we are making a two-pronged effort which is to teach and educate the teachers on the knowledge. In KEMAS, we conduct such training for teachers which is a collaboration of Yayasan Pahang, Yayasan PINTAR, UPSI and KEMAS module.

"I will also work on teachers in KEMAS N29 and other categories to take care of them in terms of the salary scheme by the government," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said correct Islamic religious education according to the Quran is important as many nursery or kindergarten classes have deviated from the basic pre-school education by being injected with the doctrine of fanatism.

"So, we must find a way so that has no deviation in terms of educational pedagogy or teaching methods so that the teaching of Islam and the teaching of the Qur'an follow what is in our teaching.

Therefore, the government, through KKDW and KEMAS, is looking for a way so that Islamic education, especially for pre-school children, can be taught with the right method, which is through the Pahang Foundation and the PINTAR Foundation," he said.

-- BERNAMA