MANILA: Squabbles caused by duplication of duties must be stopped to enable a long-term solution to be formulated for the better administration of over 150,000 tahfiz students nationwide.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today urged stakeholders to hold townhall sessions to discuss a way forward. But to begin with, Zahid said, they need to stop finger-pointing and realise the gravity of the situation.
"I urge them (stakeholders) to hold townhall sessions where all issues can be addressed towards finding solutions," said Zahid, who added that he was also ready to meet tahfiz school operators in order to formulate a long-term solution.”
This comes in the wake of a bureaucratic debate after the Sept 14 tragedy where 23 students of a tahfiz school in Keramat perished after being trapped in the hostel as it burned down.
Issues mainly involved unregulated operations of tahfiz schools, which lead to many not adhering to safety guidelines usually enforced on schools by the Education Ministry.
“Tahfiz schools come under the jurisdiction of state governments and this has caused some complications. We need to find solutions and a way forward for the long-term, not point fingers at others when tragedies strike.
"Maybe some tahfiz operators do not know about the top-level discussions, including the RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiry) on religious schools, but the implementation of solutions must involve them.”
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, was speaking on the sidelines of the 11th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime at the Conrad Manila Hotel, where he today tabled a four-point proposal for regional efforts.
On proposals by tahfiz schools officers at a special committee meeting in Putrajaya yesterday, Zahid reiterated that it should be geared towards long-term solutions.
“The same committee made proposals following a tragedy in 1997 where 24 tahfiz students were killed.
“None of the 33 proposals were followed. So the question is also about who is enforcing it," he said.
The committee had proposed for amendments to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550), which would allow for the registration of private religious institutions, including tahfiz schools to be bound by the Act.
“This would provide a more structured administration and clear guidelines to be enforced, aimed at ensuring the safety of children attending these schools," said Zahid.
“The squabbles have to stop. Each time a tragedy strikes, the finger-pointing starts and the children become the victims.”