‘Islamic education to focus on way of life’

KUALA LUMPUR: The teaching of Islamic subjects, especially in kindergartens, will emphasise the inculcation of positive values in Muslim students.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Islamic education in kindergartens and schools was focused on the techniques of performing prayers instead of the Islamic way of life.

“We want to empower kindergartens, because that is where we want to nurture our children.

“We will ensure that Islamic values will be given focus in the subject, instead of politics.

“(Current) Islamic education is limited to teaching prayers, not the Islamic way of life.

“This is what we want to change in our education system… so that it would work to build the characters (of students) according to Islamic values,” Dr Mahathir said at the Congress on the Future of Bumiputeras and the Nation 2018 yesterday.

He said as for non-Muslims, the subject of Moral Education would continue to be taught.

He said good culture breeds the good practice of acquiring knowledge.

“When we talk about education, we tend to focus on mastering knowledge. But that will only be good if it is put to use by someone of good character.

“If he is a rogue, he will use such knowledge for thievery.

“But if he is trained to be a good person, then he will use the knowledge he acquired to do good things.”

He said many parents were too busy at work to spend time with their children.

“Children can be wild and do things that are not in line with good values.”