By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 7: Sarawak is currently conducting an extensive study with Singapore’s Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah on establishing an Islamic international school in the State.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this was due to the fact that international universities recognise the syllabus of Singapore’s madrasah (school) and it produces quality students.
“We will focus on not only Middle Eastern universities but also universities in the United States of America (USA) and Europe.
“We are also sending our Muslim and non-Muslim officers to Oxford to gain exposure to the ecosystem of the Muslim and non-Muslim (syllabus).
“From there, we will have Hikmah use discretion in its responsibility (to set up the school with international standards),” he said in a press conference during the earth-breaking ceremony of Hikmah Complex and Hikmah Tahfiz School held at a site near Jalan Pustaka, Petra Jaya here today.
Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari informed that the collaboration with Singapore’s Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah would provide space for younger generations to continue their studies at the international level.
“And if they are successful, we can send them to universities in the State and out of Malaysia that are of international standards.
“So our Islamic youth will not only be ‘jaguh kampung’ (village scholar) but also a ‘jaguh dunia’ (world scholar) for the future,” he added.
The Islamic international school is speculated to be set up by transforming the existing Maahad Tahfiz Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub Primary School (Mattary) following a previous report dated Dec 9, 2020.
Mattary is a private Islamic primary school where the students have to undertake two curriculums — one based on Al-Quran teachings and the other, secular curriculum where the students have to sit for Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR). — DayakDaily
