Rilek1Corner

Tag: JMS

  • Positive Response To Enhanced Government Support To Madrasahs

    Positive Response To Enhanced Government Support To Madrasahs

    In his Malay speech for the National Day Rally last Sunday (Aug 23), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Government will provide more support to madrasahs in Singapore, especially in strengthening the teaching of secular subjects in these schools.

    Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah principal Herman Cher Ma’in has welcomed the initiatives and said the funding provided will be used to improve teaching skills.

    “We do not have the details about the initiative’s implementation. What we can do later is to sit together with MUIS and identify training courses in secular subjects – that will be one area in which we can work closely with MUIS,” he said. “There is also scope for us to explore customised training for our teachers to hand-hold them to teach better in secular subjects to make them more effective.”

    He added: “Under the Joint Madrasah System, we are looking at how we can standardise the curriculum within the three madrasahs. But each madrasah is unique, so we need to value the uniqueness of each madrasah.

    “For the Joint Madrasah System, work is in place to ensure the curriculum is meaningful for the children to ensure they are successful … In this sense, the curriculum needs to be looked at, and we can also look into how we can make the assessment more rigorous. And with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and MUIS, working in partnership, I believe we can do that.”

    Since 2008, MUIS has spent more than S$3 million on teacher training programmes. This includes both the structured programmes organised in partnership with the National Institute of Education (NIE) and Edith Cowan University in Australia, workshops and seminars.

    REACTIONS FROM FORMER STUDENTS

    Currently, there are about 3,500 students enrolled in six madrasahs in Singapore.

    Former madrasah student Hazimah Mohd Nordin said the additional support will help boost the standards of secular learning. The laboratory executive at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore said: “During my time, 10 years ago, they had mathematics and science, but it was not really up to standard yet as compared to now. Now, it’s really very good for the students.

    “Mostly, I had to learn from outside, from my tutor and the tuition centre, which also had a science lab. We didn’t have a science lab last time in my school. But they did support me when I (told them) I’m studying outside (and that) after school, I have to rush to the tuition centre. They understood that they didn’t have the resources to support me.”

    Her sentiments are shared by former madrasah student Nur Fathin, who is currently pursuing her Masters in Islamic Banking and Finance in Malaysia. She said that it is important to achieve a balance between religious and secular studies.

    “For madrasah students, it’s really a necessity for them to equip themselves with secular subjects because living in Singapore, we are facing various challenges,” she said. “We are not just a single-religion community, we are multi-religious. With the secular subjects like maths, science and all that, we can still remain relevant, we can complement the knowledge and help the society.”

    This was also highlighted by the Mufti of Singapore Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram on Sunday.

    Dr Fatris said it is important to train madrasah teachers to be competent in both religious and secular subjects to guide the Muslim community forward.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Government To Help Strengthen Teaching Of Secular Subjects In Madrasah

    Government To Help Strengthen Teaching Of Secular Subjects In Madrasah

    Multiculturalism, equality and unity were the key messages of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech in Malay for the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23).

    Mr Lee opened his speech emphasising what Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew promised in 1965: That all Singaporeans will have equal chances to progress. He then shared an anecdote that involved Mr Lee and a Malay journalist when Singapore gained independence.

    “Two days later, Mr Lee held a press conference with Malay journalists. Before asking his first question, a journalist addressed Mr Lee as ‘Tuan Perdana Menteri’. Mr Lee immediately replied: ‘Please do not address me as Tuan Perdana Menteri, but just as usual, Saudara Lee. It is not necessary. I am not a Syed like Syed Jaafar Albar. I am a common man, a small man.’

    “Mr Lee’s remark set the tone for our society in Singapore; That we will be equal, egalitarian, That we will work side by side, That we will build Singapore together,” said PM Lee.

    Mr Lee said that promise is achieved today, citing two Malay airforce pilots – Captain Muhammad Azlan and Captain Muhammad Iskandar Dzulfadhli Abdul Rahman – as examples of successful Malays.

    The Prime Minister also spoke about how madrasahs play an important role in nurturing religious scholars and teachers, and that he is happy to see that madrasah standards have gone up especially with the Joint Madrasah System.

    He added that the Government would like to help madrasahs improve further, especially in providing financial support to strengthen the teaching and learning of secular subjects.

    “We will leave religious education to MUIS and the community, but the Government can help in secular subjects like Mathematics and Science. It is important for our religious scholars and leaders to have a good grounding in non-religious subjects. It prepares them to guide Singapore Muslims to live in a modern, technological society,” he said.

    “We will work with MUIS to strengthen the teaching of secular subjects in madrasahs. We will provide financial support to upgrade teachers of secular subjects and fund awards for students who do well in secular subjects.”

    In a statement, MUIS said it welcomes the move and that it would work with Government agencies on the details. Said MUIS senior director of madrasahs Razak Lazim: “Recent news reports of successful students in fields like medicine are also testament that our madrasahs produce students with a strong grounding in secular subjects, and who are ready to step forward to contribute to the modern economy.”

    Mr Lee also said that the Malay-Muslim community is an integral part of Singapore, and it can be proud of its achievements, especially its contributions to building a more cohesive multiracial society.

    “50 years on, I am touched and proud to see many Malays especially the young expressing heartfelt love for Singapore openly. They appreciate and uphold our multi-racial society.”

    Moving forward, Mr Lee urged the community to continue strengthening those multi-racial ties for the betterment of Singapore.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Pelajar-Pelajar Cemerlang Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah Diberi Anugerah Emas

    Pelajar-Pelajar Cemerlang Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah Diberi Anugerah Emas

    Dalam perjalanan pendidikan mereka, tiga pelajar Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah (MAI) ini didorong satu matlamat – melihat rasa bangga terpancar dari wajah kededua ibu bapa mereka.

    Dengan dorongan itu sebagai obor pembakar semangat, Nurul Iffah Baharudin, Maryam Ahmad Dahlan dan Basrah Bee Shaik Hussain berusaha gigih sehingga berjaya muncul dengan keputusan cemerlang bagi Peperiksaan Sijil Am Pelajaran (GCE) Peringkat ‘O’ tahun lalu.

    Malah, Nurul Iffah, 17 tahun, muncul pelajar terbaik MAI dengan lapan kepujian, sekaligus menjadikannya pelajar terbaik di kesemua madrasah setempat tahun lalu.

    Maryam dan Basrah, juga 17 tahun, masing-masing mendapat lima kepujian.

    Hasil kecemerlangan mereka, tiga pelajar itu diberi Anugerah Emas bagi pencapaian di peperiksaan nasional 2014 bagi Peperiksaan GCE Peringkat ‘O’ di Majlis Haflah MAI 2015 semalam.

    Anugerah itu, dalam bentuk sijil dan pingat, disampaikan dalam majlis di Auditorium Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis).

    Majlis penyampaian hadiah dan sijil kepada pelajar cemerlang dalam peperiksaan nasional dan sekolah itu dihadiri tetamu terhormat, Anggota Parlimen GRC Chua Chu Kang, Encik Zaqy Mohamad.

    Dalam ucapannya, Encik Zaqy memuji madrasah setempat atas kemajuan yang dicapai. Beliau turut menggesa ibu bapa pelajar madrasah agar terus memberi sokongan penuh kepada anak-anak mereka dalam usaha mendapatkan pengetahuan yang diperlukan demi memenuhi potensi mereka.

    Sementara itu, Pengetua MAI, Encik Herman Cher Ma’in, pula berkata beliau gembira kerana ini merupakan kali kedua madrasah itu menghasilkan seorang pelajar terbaik yang mendapat lapan kepujian dan juga pelajar terbaik di kesemua madrasah bagi GCE ‘O’.

    Bagi Nurul Iffah, selain membanggakan kedua orang tuanya, beliau juga terdorong belajar bersungguh-sungguh demi membantu menguatkan ekonomi keluarga.

    Anak sulung lima beradik itu telah menerima bantuan kewangan sepanjang pengajiannya di MAI.

    Nurul Iffah, yang bercita-cita menjadi seorang guru Matematik, akan melanjutkan pengajian diploma dalam jurusan perakaunan dan kewangan di Politeknik Temasek.

    “Saya bermotivasi bekerja keras kerana hanya menerusi pendidikan saya dapat memperbaiki keadaan ekonomi keluarga. Lagipun, saya mahu mengharumkan nama madrasah,” kata anak pasangan pembantu juru ukur dan suri rumah itu.

    Dua lagi pelajar terbaik, Maryam dan Basrah sama-sama meminati bidang kedoktoran dan sains sejak kecil lagi. Kini, mereka lebih dekat mencapai cita-cita itu.

    Maryam akan melanjutkan pengajian diploma dalam jurusan Sains Bioperubatan di Politeknik Singapura, manakala Basrah akan menceburi pengajian diploma jurusan sama di Politeknik Republic.

    “Saya ada tiga matlamat semasa menduduki peperiksaan nasional iaitu membuat ibu bapa saya bangga, membuat diri saya puas hati dan mendapat keputusan lebih baik daripada tiga abang saya,” kata Maryam, anak keempat dalam lima beradik, tersenyum lebar.

    Kata Basrah pula: “Selain mengulang kaji pelajaran, saya juga mengamalkan bacaan Al-Quran setiap hari.”

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • Madrasah Wak Tanjong Mengambil Semula Murid Darjah Satu Tahun Ini

    Madrasah Wak Tanjong Mengambil Semula Murid Darjah Satu Tahun Ini

    MADRASAH Wak Tanjong telah mula mengambil semula murid darjah satu mulai tahun ini setelah ia memenuhi ukur tara Peperiksaan Tamat Sekolah Rendah (PSLE) di bawah Akta Pendidikan Wajib (CE).

    Madrasah di Sims Avenue itu gagal memenuhi ukur tara tersebut dalam tempoh penilaian 2008 hingga 2010, oleh itu tidak boleh mengambil murid darjah satu dari 2012 hingga 2014.

    Di bawah akta tersebut, madrasah sepenuh masa perlu memenuhi ukur tara PSLE tahunan jika ingin terus mengambil murid darjah satu.

    Dalam jawapan bertulisnya kepada Encik Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap (GRC Aljunied), Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, berkata terdapat hingga 400 tempat bagi pendaftaran murid darjah satu di madrasah sepenuh masa.

    Madrasah Alsagoff mengambil sekitar 30 murid darjah satu setiap tahun dari 2012 hingga 2014, manakala Madrasah Al-Maarif pula sekitar 67 pelajar.

    Madrasah Irsyad, satu daripada tiga madrasah di bawah Sistem Madrasah Bersama (JMS), mengambil sekitar 204 murid darjah satu setiap tahun sepanjang tempoh itu.

    Dua lagi madrasah JMS, Aljunied dan Al-Arabiah, berhenti mengambil murid darjah satu mulai 2009 sebagai sebahagian daripada sistem itu.

    Kedua-dua madrasah itu hanya menerima pelajar menengah.

    Menurut Dr Yaacob, sistem pendidikan madrasah memerlukan murid rendah mengambil lima mata pelajaran ukhrawi di samping empat mata pelajaran PSLE.

    “Madrasah melaksana ujian kemasukan bagi memastikan pelajar yang mereka ambil dapat menghadapi tuntutan kurikulum dengan baik,” kata beliau.

    Dr Yaacob juga berkata Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) bersama madrasah komited dalam menyediakan pendidikan bermutu bagi pelajar madrasah.

    “Selain merekrut dan mengekalkan guru bermutu, Muis melabur dalam pembangunan profesional pemimpin dan guru madrasah,” kata beliau.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • Yaacob Ibrahim: Madrasah Harus Melahirkan Asatizah Serba Boleh

    Yaacob Ibrahim: Madrasah Harus Melahirkan Asatizah Serba Boleh

    MENTERI Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, menggesa madrasah di sini agar terus memanfaatkan peluang yang disediakan Sistem Madrasah Bersama (JMS) bagi menghasilkan golongan asatizah yang boleh dibanggakan.

    Ini kerana masyarakat setempat memerlukan golongan asatizah yang bukan hanya pakar dari segi agama untuk membantu masyarakat secara menyeluruh.

    Dr Yaacob berkata ini penting lebih-lebih lagi dalam masyarakat Singapura yang berbilang bangsa.

    Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas prestasi cemerlang murid madrasah dalam Peperiksaan Tamat Sekolah Rendah (PSLE) tahun ini ketika ditemui di majlis pengagihan Dana Amanah Pendidikan (ETF) Mendaki di Kelab Masyarakat Woodlands semalam.

    “Keputusan PSLE bagi pihak madrasah memberangsangkan dan menunjukkan bahawa program yang dijalankan JMS berjaya memberi hasil yang kita inginkan.

    “Dengan kerjasama Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis), madrasah dan ibu bapa, ia menunjukkan bahawa apa yang dilakukan untuk menolong anak-anak kita adalah usaha yang akan membawa kebaikan kepada masyarakat kita,” kata Dr Yaacob.

    Dalam pada itu, di majlis tersebut, seramai 80 murid menerima baucar ETF-Skim Bantuan Sekolah (SAS) dan dermasiswa Aziz Merchant bernilai $22,000.

    Antara mereka ialah tiga adik-beradik – Zulaikha Zahar, 7 tahun; Nur Zahirah Zahar, 8 tahun; dan Muhamad Izzat Zahar, 9 tahun – daripada Sekolah Rendah Fernvale.

    Menurut ibu mereka, Cik Intan Ridha Handayani, anaknya telah menyertai program Mendaki seperti Maju Minda Matematika (Tiga M) dan Cahaya M sejak lima tahun lalu.

    “Kalau nak ajar mereka, saya tak faham, sebab itulah saya hantar mereka ke program Mendaki. Saya dapat lihat mereka rajin buat kerja sekolah di rumah tanpa disuruh dan guru mereka pun beri maklum balas baik megenai prestasi mereka di sekolah,” kata suri rumah berusia 31 tahun itu yang tinggal bersama suami dan anak-anak di flat dua bilik di Sengkang.

    Sehingga Ogos lalu, jumlah ETF yang diagihkan lebih $1.8 juta – lebih rendah berbanding $2.9 juta yang diagihkan tahun lalu.

    Namun menurut Dr Yaacob, apa yang lebih penting ialah golongan yang memerlukan bantuan tetap dibantu. Beliau turut menggesa mereka yang memerlukan tetapi belum tampil mendapatkan bantuan agar berbuat demikian.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg