Bangsamoro legislators seek to strengthen Madaris education

COTABATO CITY — “We, in the government, should take serious steps in considering madrasah education as an important part of education, not just a source of basic Islamic education but a source of inspiration for real-world advancements,” said Member of the Parliament Jaafar Apollo Mikhail Matalam, one of the authors of Parliament Bill No. 142.

The proposed bill would create a funding scheme for Madaris educational system in an effort to improve the quality of education available to Muslim students in the region.

Matalam, together with the other authors of the proposed bill, MPs Rasul Ismael and Eddie Alih, recognized the challenges faced by the Madaris in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, noting that “up to date, many private Madaris are still located in poor communities and are woefully ill-equipped in terms of social facilities, books, teaching or learning devices, and some teachers are not afforded a consistent salary.”

Under the proposed measure, a fund system for Madaris will be established for the development of Madaris’ facilities, scholarship grants, teacher development programs, and accreditation of private madrasah. Subsidies and other incentives will be made available to deserving grantees, with a focus on the economically disadvantaged.

The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education will mandate a mechanism to boost madrasah standards and expand access to the system for more Muslim students.

Once approved, an amount of P10 million will be allotted and charged to the current appropriations of MBHTE’s Madaris Bureau.

Programs and assistance for teachers and students in Madaris include nutrition and feeding programs for young children; classroom facilities; textbook assistance funds; in-service training funds for teachers; scholarship grants for the teachers’ children; scholarship grants to qualified students; funding for trainings and seminars of Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education, (ALIVE) teachers; increases in ALIVE teachers’ salaries; funding for Madaris registration and accreditation; and madrasah infrastructure development.

The authors of PB No. 142 further stated that it is important to reinforce all Madaris in the Bangsamoro region by giving additional educational funds, which will be a key element in the operational improvement of its educational quality.

MPs Michael Midtimbang, Denmartin Kahalan, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Dr. Susana Anayatin, Abdulazis Amenodin, Abdullah Macapaar, Diamila Disimban-Ramos, Akmad Abas, Dr. Hashemi Dilangalen, Mohammad Kelie Antao, Tawakal Midtimbang, Ali Sangki, Alimontaha Babao, Amroussi Macatanong, and Basit Abbas are also co-authors of the proposed measure. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)