PADANG TERAP: The Education Ministry welcomes the government's move to build tahfiz school that provide academic and skills training besides hafazan to its students.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the school concept could help the students not only to excel in their Islamic studies but also acquire suitable skills that they can use after leaving school.
Taking as an example the Ulul Albab school which integrated science and Quranic studies, Mahdzir said the new school could provide tahfiz students with opportunities to gain knowledge in both fields.
He said the idea was mooted by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during a high level committee meeting on tahfiz school recently.
"During the meeting Zahid had proposed for the school to be built in Bagan Datuk, Perak. It will provide both tahfiz syllabus and also academic plus vocational.
"Although it is still at a planning stage, the ministry believes that the idea will further help tahfiz students to obtain academic qualification that they can use to find suitable jobs to support themselves," he said.
Mahdzir said Zahid proposed the idea to help tahfiz students at private schools which did not provide academic programmes for its students.
He said that the ministry had enough teachers for the school.
"We have the manpower for the school and we will look into the proposal on how the school work should work, the syllabus that will be offered and the enrollment.
"Whatever it is, the minstry welcomes the idea and will work in helping the government to make the project a success," he said.
Mahdzir was met after attending a gathering with 200 high powered motorcycle riders 'Bikers Guru' nationwide who were on a cross country tour along the peninsular.
The teachers including from Sarawak went to southern Thailand and were on their way south before making a stop at SK Padang Terap here today.
Mahdzir applauded the teachers activity since it helped them to get close with the community.