Govt wants to include religious schools under Education Act (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Act 1996 may soon be amended to include private religious schools, to provide greater power to the federal government in coordinating the administration of schools and providing financial assistance.
This was among several recommendations that the special task force investigating the recent fire tragedy at a tahfiz school in Kuala Lumpur came up with, following its first high-level committee meeting yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, said this was subject to the approval of all the state governments, as the schools are currently under their purview.
"We will have to engage and explain to the states first, because this is a sensitive issue. In fact, we will be meeting the state representatives this evening in a National Council for Islamic Religious Malaysia (MKI) meeting.
"If agreed, we will present this recommendation, and the others, to the cabinet tomorrow. And if given the nod, we will then table it in Parliament," he said after chairing the two-hour meeting meeting yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has been put in charge of delivering any messages from the federal government to the states.
Under the current Education Act 1996 (Act 550), private schools do not include schools that teach only religious subjects, such as tahfiz.
21 tahfiz students and 2 school staff were killed in a fire that broke out in the early hours of Sept 14 at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school in Keramat.
Ahmad Zahid noted that presently, there are 941 private tahfiz schools nationwide, with 9,000 teachers and 150,000 students, but only 612 of the schools were registered with the state authorities.
"329 of them are not even registered with any bodies. They are worried that the federal or state governments would take over the schools.
"Also, most of the 941 schools do not reach the safety standard that is required of them by the local authorities, fire and rescue department and other authorities," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also pointed out that since 1989, there have been a total of 39 fires involving private religious schools, with 56 deaths recorded.
He said among the other recommendations following yesterday's meeting - that would be presented to the MKI - include coming up with a draft on the criteria required for the establishment of a tahfiz school.
He said a minimum health and safety standard would also be required for all religious schools, orphanages, old folks home and child care centres premises.
In addition, Ahmad Zahid said the task force recommended for a fire and rescue voluntary unit to be established to oversee the premises, and for a massive awareness campaign on fire safety to be carried out.
"Also, the registration of these tahfiz schools will be jointly coordinated by the state and federal governments to avoid an overlaying of power between the two parties," he said.
The high-level committee meeting has also agreed to set up a permanent coordination committee to oversee all private religious schools in the country, which will be chaired by Ahmad Zahid.