PUTRAJAYA - The Community Development Department (Kemas) is aiming at producing 100,000 young huffaz (memorisers of the Quran) from its kindergartens by 2026, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Rural and Regional Development Minister said the target was made in line with the implementation of the Kemas Pre-Tahfiz Kindergarten programme starting this July in collaboration with Yayasan Pahang.
He said the programme would combine the ‘7M’ elements, including reading the Quran, memorising, reading, writing and calculating.
"This pilot project will be implemented in phases with 100 kindergartens first and later on all kindergartens under Kemas will have this tahfiz programme.
"We are carrying out training for trainers, staff should be given a course on this programme first," he told a press conference after attending a town hall on the Kemas Pre-Tahfiz Kindergarten programme here today.
Ahmad Zahid said the tahfiz programme would be introduced as an added value for the module of the Islamic Education Appreciation Programme (PPI).
Meanwhile, he said the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) planned to restructure the salary scale of Kemas kindergarten teachers based on their qualifications.
He added that the matter would be discussed with the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Finance Ministry.
"Under the current service scheme, some of the teachers have either a certificate, diploma, degree or masters. However, this scheme is not based their qualifications.
"So, it is not fair that those who have qualification and experience are not given recognition by the government,” he said. - BERNAMA