PAHANG TACKLES SHORTAGE OF BRAILLE-QURAN TEACHERS AMID GROWING DEMAND

By Anis Nabilla Md Wazilah

KUANTAN, March 18 (Bernama) -- With nearly 3,000 visually impaired individuals recorded in Pahang, the state is facing a critical shortage of Braille Quran teachers, highlighting the urgent need for immediate action.

To address this, Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah (UnIPSAS) has taken proactive steps by organising intensive workshops to train individuals interested in becoming Braille Quran educators, aiming to bridge the gap in specialised teaching resources.

bootstrap slideshow

UnIPSAS’ Quran and Sunnah lecturer, Mohammad Haafiz Aminuddin Mohd Azmi, said the workshops focus on both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical training to ensure effective learning.

“Once they master the skills, they can go on to teach the visually impaired or even sighted individuals using Braille Quran," said Mohammad Haafiz, who is also a member of the Braille Quran Verification Committee (LTQB) under the Home Ministry, responsible for reviewing Braille Quran before publication.

Speaking to Bernama at UnIPSAS here recently, he emphasised that aspiring Braille educators must first master the fundamental aspects of Braille writing, including punctuation and numerical codes, before advancing to the Quranic Braille system.

bootstrap slideshow

“Before learning Arabic letters and additional characters, they must first understand the basic Braille alphabet from A to Z. For Braille Quran, numerical codes are also crucial as they help in navigating the text effectively.

“...learning the Braille code itself takes a short time, but achieving full mastery requires continuous practice and dedication,” he said.

So far, 29 individuals have completed the training, including officers from the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (JAIP), Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP), Pahang State Tahfiz Maahad (MTNP), Pahang Traditional Tahfiz Maahad (MTTNP), and the Pahang State Education Department (JPNP).

Determined to ensure no one is left behind, UnIPSAS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zawavi Zainal Abidin reaffirmed the university’s commitment to providing an inclusive platform for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to study the Quran, with support from various stakeholders, including the state government.

He stressed that learning the words of Allah SWT is a fundamental right of all Muslims, and UnIPSAS is dedicated to ensuring that individuals with disabilities, including those with visual and hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and autism, have access to proper Quranic education.

As part of this effort, UnIPSAS is also planning to establish a dedicated Quran Learning Centre, where students can reside and receive focused Quran education in a conducive learning environment.

"We are working towards establishing this centre so that once it is completed, students can live and learn here in a structured setting," he added.

--BERNAMA