‘Prioritise welfare of tahfiz students’
Expert: Pupils’ safety just as vital as taking halal food
BANGI: The safety, health and welfare of tahfiz (religious school) students should be given as much emphasis as adhering to the halal and haram (forbidden) aspects of Islam, says a religious expert.
The Selangor chairman of the Federation of National Associations of Al-Quran Tahfiz Institutions (Pinta) Mohd Dailami Che Age issued this advice to registered and unregistered tahfiz in light of the generally lackadaisical attitude of the schools’ management towards the safety of the pupils.
“As much as it is important that a Muslim must ensure he eats only halal food, the same emphasis should be given to ensure the safety of pupils, especially on the awareness of fire risks.
“The schools must abide by the building laws and make sure their pupils are safe living and studying in the buildings they built. This is stated in the AlQuran.
“As much as it is a noble thing to memorise the Quran, it is just as important that the school management knows what to do in case of a fire at its premises,” he told reporters at a seminar here yesterday organised by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) on the management of safety at tahfiz.
Mohd Dailami was responding to questions about the fiery deaths of 21 students and two wardens at Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah in Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, last month following an act of arson and revenge by a group of boys.
Two 16-year-olds have been charged with the deaths.
Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who launched the event, said all tahfiz nationwide had been declared “working places” by the institute.
He reiterated the need to treat schools as working places.
“Not many people know that schools are also working places and they should abide by the rules and regulations because there are just as many hazards in schools, especially tahfiz, as in other working places.
“Teachers are like the employers while students are the workers,” Lee said at a press conference later.
He said a book containing guidelines on how to manage the welfare, health and safety aspects would be ready by the year end and distribut- ed to all tahfiz by next year, adding that there were 150,000 students in 1,500 registered and unregistered tahfiz nationwide.
“Niosh has been appointed to look into all aspects of tahfiz safety by the Deputy Prime Minister.
“We will conduct seminars around the country to raise awareness of such matters,” he said.