ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

Encik Mansor Haii Sukaimi asked the Acting Minister for Social Affairs if he will state (i) how many Islamic religious schools there are in Singapore, stating whether they are full-time or part-time; (ii) what is their total enrolment with breakdown details on level of education by types, i.e. pre-school; primary; secondary; others; (iii) what is the total number of teachers involved, giving details of their highest educational qualifications; (iv) what is the salary they receive, giving the information in the form of frequency distribution; (v) of the graduate teachers, what are their salaries, in frequency distribution; (vi) what textbooks are used and where are these books published; (vii) how many Singapore citizens and permanent residents are now undergoing degree courses in Islamic universities, giving the names of the universities and types of courses they are taking; (viii) if Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura will investigate into the trend on the decreasing number of competent school-leavers who are qualified to be trained to become Islamic religious teachers, and state what steps, if any, will be taken by MUIS to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of religious teachers to cater to the needs of over 85,000 Muslim children in the 5-15 year age group; (ix) whether MUIS, in cooperation with appropriate Muslim organisations, religious schools and others, will formulate and introduce a proper Scheme of Service for religious teachers; (x) whether MUIS considers it necessary to have a scheme that aims at ensuring that there will be sufficient numbers of highly educated and competent learned men of Islam who are capable of occupying the key religious posts or functions in Singapore, and therefore can render religious guidance to the Singapore Muslims in the context of the dynamic and modernising climate of our Republic, and, if so, what steps are being taken or planned; and (xi) of the funds collected through the Zakat-Fitrah (since the introduction of the computerised system of collections), how much has been spent for purposes of educational activities or programmes of the different types, giving the absolute and percentage values.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: (i) There are 16 Islamic religious schools in Singapore registered with the Ministry of Education of which 8 are full-time and 8 are part-time.

(ii) The total enrolment of these 16 schools is 1985. The details are as follows:- Full-time Part-time Pre-school NIL NIL Primary 873 936 Secondary 159 NIL Pre-U 17 NIL Total 1049 936

(iii) The total number of teachers teaching in these schools is 91. A breakdown of their qualification is as follows:- Full-time Part-time Completed secondary 31 4 Completed post-secondary 14 0 BA Degree 20 0 Others (not ascertainable) 5 17 Total: 70 21

(iv) A breakdown of the salary/allowance paid to these teachers is as follows: Full-time Part-time $ 50 - 99 8 5 $100 - 149 5 5 $150 - 199 13 5 $200 - 249 4 4 $250 - 299 5 1 $300 - 349 11 0 $350 - 399 5 0 $400 - 449 5 0 $450 - 499 7 0 $500 - 549 0 0 $550 - 599 2 0 $600 - 649 0 0 Over $600 1 0 Voluntary 4 1 Total: 70 21

(v) A breakdown of the salary of the graduate teachers is as follows: $200 - 299 2 $300 - 399 7 $400 - 499 6 $500 - 599 2 Over $600 1 Total: 18 Two graduate teachers are receiving allowances only. (The lowest paid teacher receives a salary of $235 pm).

(vi) Religious schools in Singapore do not use standard textbooks. The majority use textbooks compiled by local teachers. Three full-time religious schools, Madrasah Aljunied, Madrasah Al-Maarif and Madrasah Wak Tanjong use textbooks published in Egypt. Some primary religious schools use textbooks published by Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka, Malaysia.

(vii) Muslim students who wish to pursue higher religious education abroad are not obliged to inform MUIS of their intention before departure. Therefore MUIS does not have a complete record of all Singapore citizens and permanent residents currently pursuing higher religious education overseas.

However, as at January 1982, 36 students were known to be attending different courses of religious studies, 23 in Egypt, 5 in Saudi Arabia, 2 in Kuwait and 6 in Malaysia. Of these, 13 students were in receipt of bursaries from MUIS. 9 bursary holders were studying in the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, 3 in the University of Malaya and 1 in Nilam Puri Institute in Malaysia.

There may also be some students pursuing religious courses in Indonesia, but MUIS does not know how many.

(viii) MUIS is aware of the need to ensure an adequate supply of religious teachers. Based on available information regarding the number of students taking up religious studies abroad, there is no reason to expect a shortage in the near future.

(ix) Until sections 81 and 82 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act are brought into force, MUIS will not be able to formulate or introduce a proper scheme of service for religious teachers.

(x) MUIS is satisfied that, in the foreseeable future, there will be enough candidates to fill all the key religious posts in Singapore.

(xi) The amount of Zakat-Fitrah collected in the last 3 years was: 1980 - $844,308 1981 - $970,847 1982 - $947,258

The amount spent for educational activities during the same period was: 1980 - $191,556 or 22.69% 1981 - $266,171 or 27.42% 1982 - $287,570 or 30.36%

A breakdown of the amount distributed as bursaries, aid to madrasahs, grants to religious teachers and study grants is at Annex below. Annex AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FROM THE ZAKAT FITRAH COLLECTION 1980-1982 Capitation Annual grant grant Religious Year Bursary (aid to Reg. Teacher/ Study Total madrasah) teacher KGMS Grant $ $ $ $ $ $ 1980 88,988 5,550 24,600 47,773 24,645 191,556 1981 142,900 5,555 28,650 62,505 26,561 266,171 1982 122,600 8,200 37,400 70,694 48,676 287,570 projections - PROJECTED ENROLMENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, 1982 - 1990, VOCATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BOARD PROJECTED ENROLMENT BY COURSE 1982 - 1990 (Cols. 1359 - 1374)