PAHANG STEPS UP EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN STATE-OWNED RELIGIOUS SECONDARY SCHOOLS

KUANTAN, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Pahang is committed to further strengthening its state-owned religious secondary schools, to be on par with elite mainstream schools through a comprehensive, focused and high-impact educational paradigm shift.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said eight resolutions were formulated at the State-Owned Religious Secondary Schools Education Paradigm Shift Workshop, organised by Yayasan Pahang, the state Islamic Religious Department (JAIP) and Akademi Pahang 1st, which involved nearly 70 participants, comprising JAIP officers, school principals and administrators.

“These schools must not be complacent with existing achievements. Students need to be nurtured, to compete on par with the best from other schools, while teachers must continue to be empowered as the main pillar of educational success,” he said in a statement, today.

Wan Rosdy said the success of the workshop should be measured through tangible improvements in teaching quality, student performance and sustained school excellence, rather than documentation alone, and the state government would continue to provide full support through teacher professional development, facilities, curriculum, staffing and quality educators.

According to him, the Pahang government allocates nearly RM75 million annually for the operating costs of all state-owned religious secondary schools, with an additional RM1.4 million set aside for hostel meal expenses. He said that a total of RM116.58 million is provided for the operation of all religious schools, statewide.

Wan Rosdy said RM17.4 million has been allocated for the construction and maintenance of religious schools, alongside initiatives to increase allowances for hostel-based Quran and Fardhu Ain teachers, as well as daily Quran and Fardhu Ain (KAFA) teachers, reducing school and hostel fees, and further strengthening Islamic education institutions.

He also expressed hope that the federal government would continue to support religious secondary schools implementing the national curriculum, noting that strong cooperation from all parties would help elevate these schools to be on par with the nation’s leading educational institutions.

-- BERNAMA