Disbursements of Zakat Collection Under Asnaf

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs from 2006 to 2010 (a) in the administration of z akat under the "Fisabilillah" category (Asnaf), what is the amount allocated by MUIS to the Madrasah Development and Assistance sub-category; and (b) what are the annual amounts disbursed to each of the six full-time madrasahs and how are these amounts decided.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) gives financial support to the six full-time madrasahs in Singapore. The assistance comes from two main sources: the Fisabilillah 15 component of the Zakat Fund as well as grants and various assistance schemes from MUIS.

In the last five years, MUIS has allocated an average sum of $3.3 million per year from z akat for madrasah development. The amount provided to each of the six madrasah varies, depending on needs.

In addition, all six madrasahs have also received a total of $5.18 million in the last five years in direct funding from Dana Madrasah 16 , or Madrasah Fund. This funding is primarily used for student and teacher development, which are the key areas to improve the overall quality of our madrasah education.

The funding components in each madrasah are as follows:

(i) $300 grant for every Primary 5 and 6 student for PSLE remedial and enrichment programmes, given that madrasah students are also required to sit for the PSLE under the Compulsory Education Act;

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(ii) $13,500 grant for each m adrasah for student programmes and miscellaneous expenses for running the school library and organising events, such as sports day;

(iii) $15,000 Teachers Training and Development Grant for in-service teacher training as well as top-up allowance ranging from $50 to $400 for teachers' salary, depending on their qualification; and

(iv) teachers' Health Insurance and Welfare benefits.

Further, MUIS recognises the importance of professional training for madrasah teachers. Since 2003, a total of $2.6 million from the Zakat Fund has been used for fully-sponsored professional training for madrasah teachers, Heads of Department and Principals. To date, 73 teachers have obtained their Diploma in Education qualification and another 76 teachers have graduated from the Specialist Diploma Programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE). By the end of 2012, 84% of madrasah teachers would have been professionally trained.

MUIS also ensures financial support to needy students in the six full-time madrasahs . Since 2010, MUIS has tapped on its Progress Fund to render these students assistance packages, a large portion of which covers school fees. In 2011, 269 students benefited from the Madrasah Financial Assistance Scheme, which is one of the programmes under MUIS' Progress Fund.