Singapore: 4 of 6 madrasahs meet PSLE benchmark

Of the six full-time madrasahs, four have met the PSLE benchmark this year set by the Ministry of Education. Since 2008, the madrasahs have been required to meet a minimum PSLE benchmark at least twice in three years to continue admitting new primary one pupils. This year is the start of a new three-year cycle, 2011 to 2013.

The four that made the grade this year are Madrasah Al-Ma'arif, Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah, Madrasah Wak Tanjong and Madrasah Al-Irsyad.

The two that did not meet the benchmark this year are Madrasah Al-Arabiah and Madrasah Aljunied.

But the Ministry of Education said there will be no impact since both madrasahs have stopped taking in new primary one students. 

330 students enrolled in madrasahs sat for the PSLE this year.

The top madrasah PSLE students are: Labiba Nur Hasna Idham from Madrasah Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiah, Nur Masyitah Borhan from Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah, Helwah Athiyah Abdul Ghani from Madrasah Al-Ma'arif Al-Islamiah and Murshidah Albakri from Madrasah Al-Ma'arif Al-Islamiah. 

The San Yu Adventists School, which was also issued a minimum benchmark it had to meet every two out of three years since 2008, has made the cut. 

Two of its students took the PSLE this year.

Of the 31 homeschooled students who took their PSLE this year, nine did not meet the minimum PSLE benchmark.

The benchmarks are different for the madrasahs and the San Yu Adventists School and homeschoolers. 

For the madrasahs, the benchmark is pegged at the average PSLE aggregate score of Malay pupils who take four standard-level subjects in the six lowest performing national schools.

For San Yu Adventists School and homeschoolers, the benchmark is pegged at the 33rd percentile PSLE aggregate score of all pupils who take four standard-level subjects in the PSLE in that same year.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1167373/1/.html

Bangladesh: Madrasah students take government's terminal exam

From BDNews "2.6 mn students take terminal exam"

Dhaka, Nov 23 (bdnews24.com)—Some 2.6 million students --an increase by 1,49,347 than last year's-- have sat for mathematics exams, the opening test for the primary and madrasah terminal examinations this year. 

The exams began at 11am on Wednesday at 6,168 centres across the country and seven centres in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Jeddah, UAE's Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, Libya's Tripoli, Bahrain and Australia's Canberra. 

This is for the first time the results will be given following grading system instead of the traditional division system, Primary and mass education minister Mohammad Afsarul Amin told bdnews24.com. 

Roughly 2.3 million students are taking part in the primary terminal examinations, including 4,920 appearing in English version. Of them, around 1.07 million candidates are girls. 

Meanwhile, about 0.3 million students would sit for the ebtedayee terminal examinations of whom 53.25 percent are girls, the minister told a press briefing on Tuesday. 

He added that 4,003 candidates with disabilities would appear for the examinations and would be given an extra 15 minutes to complete their papers. 

The number of Talent Pool Scholarships to be given this year has been increased by two thousand to 22,000 while the number of general scholarships would be 33,000 against last year's 30,000. 

Last year, some 2.48 million students appeared for the exams of whom 92.34 percent passed the hurdles. 

The primary and ebtedayee terminal examinations were launched in 2009. The examinations this year will last till Nov 30, primary education directorate's administration director Abdul Rouf Chowdhury had told bdnews24.com earlier. 

The three-hour examinations will commence from 11am on every test date. 

Source: http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=211963&cid=2

Singapore: MUIS to increase funding to madrasahs, financial assistance for needy

SINGAPORE: The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will increase funding to full-time madrasahs and financial assistance to needy students.

Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said that Singapore has to be prepared to invest more in building up its madrasahs.

In his Budget debate in Parliament, he added that MUIS has made significant strides in the madrasah education system.

This includes the new International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), teacher development and student enrichment programmes in the works.

Dr Yaacob said that the IBDP in particular will be a breakthrough in integrating academic and religious learning.

He added that the new multi-disciplinary and integrated Joint Madrasah System (JMS) curriculum reflects a major paradigm shift in madrasah education.

Dr Yaacob said: "Our madrasahs are not an alternative to mainstream national schools. Their key priority is to produce qualified religious teachers who are able to meet the changing expectations and needs of our community. They will produce religious leadership that will help our community develop together as good Singapore Muslims by ensuring our socio-religious compass is in the right direction. I am proud that our madrasah students have done well."

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1260160/1/.html