KUALA LUMPUR: Education quality for pondok learning institutions will be holistically upgraded to place it among institutions of higher education that are able to produce outstanding graduates, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri.
He said graduates of pondok learning institutions would also be able to have higher qualifications recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) enhancing their potential to secure better employment.
“A balance between education quality and the development of education institutions is especially crucial for empowerment in order to face other issues.
“Thus, today we took a step to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and Kolej Professional Baitulmal Kuala Lumpur (KPBKL) for the implementation of a diploma programme in Modern Pondok Syariah Islamiyyah (DSI) Al-‘Abaqirah,” he said.
Zulkifli said this to reporters after witnessing the signing of the MOU by KPBKL rector Datuk Dr Noor Inayah Yaakub and MAIWP chief executive officer Datuk Akhbar Samon at Perkim Building, here today.
The ceremony also witnessed the signing of MOU on Integrated and Holistic Education System (IHES) endowment between ADNI Endowment Development Berhad, represented by its executive chairman Prof Datuk Dr Hasni Mohamed and MAIWP.
Commenting further, Zulkifli said the MOU would enable pondok students to pursue a diploma course at KPBKL for a duration of two and a half years at a lower cost.
“The study only costs RM1,800 in comparison with the normal overall cost which is RM18,000 covering four main curriculums.
“It follows the Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) based on turath (interpretations of books), Arabic, Jawi and Quran memorisation to produce Islamic scholars well-versed in religious knowledge and worldly affairs,” he said.
Zulkifli who is the brainchild behind the idea of the modern pondok while he was still the Federal Territories mufti said the pondok education system would be more integrated with the IHES. – Bernama
