Allowance for religious teachers to increase

KUANTAN: Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) teachers can expect an increase in their allowance after their requests caught the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Pahang Dakwah Islamiah and Special Functions Committee chairman Datuk Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad said the Prime Minister had said that those serving the government should obtain a salary of not less than RM800.

“I understand that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is working on t his matter, so we need to put in a bit more effort.

“I believe the request made by KAFA teachers will become a reality soon,” he said in a speech at the close of the national-level Ihtifal KAFA 2014 at Bukit Gambang City Resort near here Saturday night.

He said a raise in allowance was seen as appropriate considering the role of KAFA teachers in educating the Muslim community to become moral and honourable individuals.

Meanwhile, Jakim directorgeneral Datuk Othman Mustapha said the KAFA programme was proven effective when the number of students capable of reading and memorising the Quran as well as understand basic Fardu Ain had increased.

He said the recognition given by the government towards KAFA also encouraged more parents to enrol their children in the programme.

Othman said when

the government decided to use the KAFA Class Assessment Test (UPKK) as an entrance requirement to religious secondary schools at the federal and state-levels as well as fully residential schools, it placed the UPKK at the same level as the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR).

“Therefore, Jakim will ensure management of the UPKK exam is improved from time to time, whereby this year alone, it has allocated about RM3 million for the cost of printing the UPKK exam questions and paying its personnel,” he said in his speech text read out by Jakim deputy director-general (Management), Awang Khalid Mat Ali. – Bernama