The integration of religious subjects, known as Islamic Education, into the General Education system implemented on November 1, 2023 involved the coordination of pre-school to Primary 3 of religious school with Year 2 to Year 5 of conventional school, said Minister of Religious Affairs Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
With the integration, several initiatives have been implemented, among which involves aspects of research and updating existing curriculum to adapt to the time allocation, he said elaborating his ministry’s budget for the 2024-2025 financial year yesterday.
The updating of curriculum, which involves teachers and experts from higher education institutions will also be adjusted to the needs of religious learning at every level starting from the primary school level to the religious school level and secondary level.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin also said the process of building the Islamic education curriculum emphasises aspects of value, goodness and virtue to provide knowledge, understanding and skills according to the student’s age.
“This also takes into account the need to appreciate a religious life ensuring that people continue to live in a peaceful atmosphere with prosperity and mutual respect based on the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) philosophy.”
The needs of religious teachers for Islamic education subjects in schools is also always taken into account and adjusted, the minister said.
He said that under the integration system, students of Primary 4, 5 and 6 are placed in special religious school buildings, while taking into account the building capacity and the number of students.
The number of special religious school buildings is still limited and unable to cover all village catchments. The collaborative approach still continues in some public schools, the minister said.
He said in addition, building blocks are also used for the Youth Al-Quran Reading Scheme (STAR), religious adult classes, study classes for Senior Citizens Association and other related needs. – Azlan Othman
