Ghana: Brong Ahafo celebrates Islamic Education Week

Sunyani Nov. 20, GNA- Mr Yussif Imoru , Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the Islamic Education Unit at the weekend urged parents to live up to their responsibilities by ensuring that their children are provided with basic educational needs.

This he said would encourage them to study hard and achieve success in their education.

He was speaking at a durbar to climax this year's Islamic educational week celebration in Sunyani on the theme: “Providing quality education and sound moral training- the role of Islamic education Unit.”

He asked parents to show affection and care for their children by monitoring their movement and inculcate Islamic values of the fear of Allah in them.

The children should be thought to be obedient, learn how to forgive and to be selfless and eschew violence.

Mr Imoru tasked parents to guide their children to shy away from peer influence, which would lead them to smoking, alcoholism and gambling.

He called on teachers to be hard working and ensure decency and modesty in their dressing to serve as good role models to their pupils.

He entreated them to avoid lateness, absenteeism and apathy.

Mr Imoru appealed to Muslims who are gainfully employed to adopt one of the Islamic schools in Sunyani and other districts in the region to make them model schools.

He said the performance of Islamic schools in the region is comparable to any student in the public schools, whilst the number of Islamic schools are increasing at a very fast rat.

He said in the region alone there are 683 kindergartens, 86 primary and 57 Junior High Schools with a total enrolment of 32,730 pupils.

Source: Ghana News Agency, http://www.modernghana.com/news/362006/1/brong-ahafo-celebrates-islamic-education-week.html

Oman: New Islamic schools to be opened ...

From "Salalah and Ibri to get Islamic education schools" written by a staff reporter of the Oman Tribune.

MUSCAT The Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture will open two new schools for Islamic education this year, said HE Habib Bin Mohammed Al Riyami, Secretary- General of Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, on Monday.

Talking to Oman Tribune on the sidelines of the second educational forum for teaching staff and associated jobs, Yahmadi said that these two new schools would be opened in Salalah and Ibri to impart Islamic education. He said that there are already four schools being run by the centre in various parts of the Sultanate.

The three-day forum organised by the Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture is being held at the Islamic Sciences Institute from Monday. It is being held under the theme ‘Together for the development of educational performance,’ under the auspices of Habib Al Riyami. Around 130 teachers and management staff of these institutions from across the Sultanate are participating in the forum.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the forum, Dr Badr Bin Hamad Al Yahmadi, Director of the Education Affairs and Training Department of Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, said the second forum was a good opportunity to promote members of the teaching staff and its associated jobs at the Islamic Science institutes and Holy Quran schools affiliated to the centre.

The forum will provide an opportunity for them to share views and experiences on how to promote educational process. He said the first forum was successful in achieving its objectives.

Later, meritorious students of the general diploma and Islamic sciences from different institutions of the centre were facilitated.

DepEd pushes for ‘madrasah’ education for Filipino Muslims

By Alexander Villafania

PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated a budget of P300 million this year for the madrasah education of Filipino Muslims.

With the approval of President Benigno Aquino III, the DepEd has increased its budget from P200 million the previous year.

As a follow up to the program, the DepEd will be implementing the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) curriculum in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The agency had earlier signed an agreement with ARMM Governor Ansarrudin Alonto-Adiong for the implementation of the program, which was followed up by the release of P75 million for preparatory activities such as training of asatidz or Muslim teachers.

Included in the training programs for asatidz is the Accelerated Teacher Education Program (ATEP) that helps professionalize the ranks of Muslim teachers. The ATEP is being conducted in DepEd partner universities such as Pampanga Agricultural College, University of Rizal Systems, Basilan State College, Western Mindanao State University, Universidad de Zamboanga, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

“This is the first time it is going to be implemented in ARMM even as ALIVE is already taught in public schools and private Muslim schools or madaris nationwide,” Luistro said.

The ALIVE curriculum was initially used for elementary schools during the school year 2005-2006. It was later refined by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization - Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH). The refinements of the ALIVE curriculum are the ones being implemented in ARMM.

Luistro is also encouraging the opening of more private schools to accommodate more students who want to learn through the same beliefs as their culture and religious orientation provides.

In light of the DepEd’s K+12 plan, a madrasah curriculum for kindergarten and secondary education are also being developed. These are expected to be implemented in school year 2012-2013.