BATU PAHAT: The Education Ministry is ready to meet with any party to clear up any misunderstanding on the implementation of the "Imam Al-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith" appreciation module in schools nationwide.
Its Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ying (pic) said the confusion arose when some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) expressed their concerns over the implementation of the module, thus creating various speculations.
She added that the implementation of the module would only involve Muslim teachers and students.
"So they (including NGOs) need not worry, I understand their concerns, but we at the ministry are ready to meet them and talk about it. Everyone knows that this Hadith 40 module is only for Muslim students and teachers, we at the ministry hope that this issue will not continue to be played up,” she told reporters after visiting Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Cheng Siu 1 and 2 here on Sunday (Aug 27).
Gerakan president Dominic Lau expressed support for the implementation of the Imam Al-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith module as long as it was only introduced at the sekolah agama level.
Lau said that the government should have explained the issue properly from the start.
"Statements from the authorities in this matter were too macro and has caused uneasiness amongst the public, especially parents and non-muslim students.
"I also stress that the Education Ministry holds true to the statements made by its minister saying that the module would only be introduced to sekolah agama (religious school) students and Muslim students, and not be expanded to non-Muslim students. That guarantee is important," he said.
Meanwhile, when asked about the teacher shortage problem in SJKC and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT), Lim said the ministry was currently working to resolve the issue.
She said the ministry had obtained data in six states, namely Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kedah and Perlis and would begin collecting data in Johor on Sept 7.
"Actually, the teacher shortage issue does not only involve SJKC and SJKT but also Sekolah Kebangsaan (national primary schools), especially in subjects like English, Bahasa Melayu and Islamic Education,” she said. - Bernama
