SPTM, A TESTAMENT TO GOVT’S COMMITMENT TO ELEVATING NATIONAL TAHFIZ EDUCATION

BAGAN DATUK, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- The launch of the Malaysian Tahfiz Recognition Standard (SPTM), which will be implemented in stages beginning next year, reflects the government’s commitment to continue elevating tahfiz education in the country to be on par with mainstream education.

The objective of the SPTM is to strengthen the quality of tahfiz education and to serve as a recognition mechanism for huffaz (Quran memorisers) and tahfiz institutions.

Recognition of Quran memorisation is not merely an honour, but also a catalyst for excellence in the learning and memorisation of the Holy Book. 

On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi launched the SPTM with 25,000 huffaz from across the country in attendance at a spiritually uplifting event, ‘the Himpunan Huffaz 2025 and Simfoni Dakwah Nusantara’ themed “Warisan Qurani, Membina Generasi Rabbani”, held at Masjid Tuminah Hamidi here.

In his officiating speech, Ahmad Zahid said as an incentive to promote a culture of excellence, 10 top-performing tahfiz institutions that achieve outstanding results based on the SPTM criteria will be awarded an incentive of RM50,000 each.

In a statement, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the SPTM was developed in 2020 as an assessment and recognition mechanism for Quran memorisers and tahfiz institutions.

He said the SPTM was first presented at the 54th Conference of the Advisory Board for the Coordination of Islamic Religious Education (LEPAI) on July 12, 2021.

The Standard Criteria Instrument was subsequently developed in 2022 and tabled at the 56th National Islamic Education Coordination Committee Conference on May 20, 2022, and again at the 57th conference on Oct 5, 2022.

“The Pilot Programme for Testing the Assessment Instrument Based on the Malaysian Tahfiz Recognition Standard was also carried out at state tahfiz institutions in Selangor and Johor in 2023.

“In January this year, Jakim distributed the SPTM e-book to all State Islamic Religious Authorities (PBAN) and extended it to all institutions under their respective states,” he said.

Sirajuddin said quality control in tahfiz education is crucial in driving changes in management practices, as continuous improvements will be implemented to achieve the prescribed standards.

He said the standard recognition mechanism is also important in encouraging tahfiz institutions to register with PBAN and for Jakim to remain committed to working together with the authorities to ensure efforts to strengthen tahfiz education are aligned with mainstream education.

“The SPTM is the result of collective contributions from scholars, experts and practitioners of religious education who have devoted their time and energy to producing a comprehensive and high-quality guideline for the recognition of Quran memorisation in Malaysia,” he said.

On the implementation phase next year, he said five states have received approval to implement the SPTM, namely Selangor, Perak, Penang, Melaka and Sarawak, while nine states are still in the process, namely Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, the Federal Territories, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Pahang, Johor and Kelantan.

In addition, three series of Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops involving all PBAN were conducted in 2025.

“The objective of these workshops is to provide understanding and hands-on field training to tahfiz institution inspectors based on the established standards, guided by experienced facilitators.

“The implementation of the SPTM will be carried out through several stages of assessment, starting with self-audits by the states, followed by each state submitting two of their best tahfiz institutions. These institutions will then be assessed by an evaluation panel under the Tahfiz Accreditation Committee (JAT), and 10 institutions that meet the standards will be awarded recognition or ratings at the national level,” he said.

-- BERNAMA