JOHOR has agreed to accept financial aid from the Federal Government to develop public religious schools, said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

He added that although the state had been providing fund to such schools over the years, the additional funds from the Federal Govern- ment was much needed.

Speaking to some 2,000 religious teachers at SM Logahtul Quran in Kampung Kesang Tasek in Tangkak on Saturday, he said, it did not mean the state had surrendered the schools to the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government truly wants to help all public religious schools (sekolah agama rakyat) in the country.

“I hope the teachers and members of the public will not misinterpret the acceptance as surrendering the schools to the Federal Government,” he said.

Abdul Ghani said Johor had been supporting such schools for a very long time, and today there were still families who sent their children to study religion, especially the Quran.

He said although there were common schools, including the state-run religious schools, parents still sent their children to public religious schools.

He said he was impressed with the school which had succeeded in producing students who not only could read the Quran, but also speak fluent Arabic.

He said at the same time they could also speak very good English and it showed that the public religious school system in the state also gave importance to mainstream education.

Earlier, state Islamic Affairs Department director Datuk Mohd Zaini Othman said the state had allocated more than RM8.3mil to such schools since 2000.

He said this year alone the state allocated RM3.374mil that included salaries for teachers and other miscellaneous needs. He hoped the teachers would utilise the funds to benefit both the schools and their pupils..

“We also urge the students to study hard and learn the Quran as we want them to grow up with very good religious values,” he added.

Source: thestar.com.my

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