PETALING JAYA: Teachers of Islamic Studies will be taking part in discussions with experts in the religion to improve their learning and teaching skills, which they can impart to their students, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin said.

“The teachers can discuss matters pertaining to Islamic studies, on teaching as well as learning, or on current challenges faced by Muslims.

“I hope through the knowledge and expertise shared in this discussions these teachers will be more effective in moulding ethical-minded students,” Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, told more than 3,500 teachers when opening the National Convention for Islamic Studies Teachers in Serdang near here yesterday.

He said the discussions would be led by a mursyid (guidance teachers) under the Capacity Building Programme for Islamic Studies Teachers in all districts.

Muhyiddin also advised these teachers to reach out more to the community.

“As a group that has vast knowledge in the religion, I am confident that Islamic Studies teachers, of which there are 52,000 in the country, can play a greater role in delivering Islamic knowledge to the people.

“With the guidance of our ustaz and ustazah, the people can better appreciate the teachings of Islam and not be influenced by deviant beliefs,” he said.

Muhyiddin added that efforts by the Education Ministry at improving the facilities of religious schools has produced positive results.

Last year, he said, 26 sekolah agama rakyat (community religious schools) and sekolah agama negri (state-aided religious schools) were upgraded as sekolah agama bantuan kerajaan, or SABK (government-assisted religious schools).

This has brought the number of SABK schools in the country to 195, he added.

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