Jakim and Education Ministry to discuss on requirements for registration of religious schools

PUTRAJAYA: Officers from both the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and the Education Ministry are expected to discuss the requirements for the registration of private religious schools including 'madrasah' and Quran memorisation (tahfiz) schools soon, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
"I have discussed (the registration of private religious schools) with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (on Monday).
"From the discussion, we have decided that officers from both sides will discuss and set the terms of reference with regards to the registration of the schools," he told reporters after officiating the Conference of Principals and Headmasters from the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) at the ministry, here, today.
Mahdzir added that only after both parties have assessed the number of private religious schools in each state can the registration process be expedited.
On Thursday, Mahdzir announced that all private religious schools would soon be registered under Jakim.
He said the move was in line with the National Tahfiz Education Policy (DPTN) as proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak last year.
Mahdzir said the registration exercise would also allow the government to monitor such schools so that they would follow the standard operating procedures set by the ministry.