ARMM opens PHP20M Basilan Islamic school

From the Philippine News Agency (May 23): ARMM opens PHP20M Basilan Islamic school

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday led the turnover of an Islamic school building worth PHP20 million to the community here in a move to help curb the spread of radicalism and propagate the true teachings of Islam.

“The infrastructure will not only be used to impart the correct teachings of Islam, but also a reformation center, particularly for out-of-school youths, who are the potential recruits of terror groups. They should be brought to this kind of school,” Hataman said.

Hataman, who has been in the forefront together with Islamic scholars in the fight against radicalism, said the madaris — an Arabic term for Islamic educational institution — is one of their initiatives to address misinformation about Islam.

“We have discussed this with the Ulama Council in Basilan. As part of the anti-terror campaign, the building of formation centers in Islamic schools will help counter the propaganda of the terrorist groups,” Hataman pointed out.

Basilan is the birthplace of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The newly built madaris is located in the coastal Barangay Buli-Buli, which is the center of this town in the southern part of the province.

The Islamic school occupies a one-hectare property with more than 10 classrooms that could accommodate 1,000 college and high school students.

At least 16 Muslim clerics regularly provide Islamic studies, particularly Islamic Theology, as well as guest instructors from nearby Isabela City to teach specialized Islamic subjects.

Hataman said the Islamic school will also be equipped with vocational and agri-fishery courses.

“This is not a simple kind of school, but also a reformation center in Sumisip,” Hataman said.

“This will be replicated not just in the cities of Lamitan and Isabela but also in other provinces in the ARMM,” he added.

Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, Basilan Ulama Council vice chairperson, welcomed the establishment of the new facility, saying this will boost their campaign to stop extremism and radical ideology.

“The inauguration of the madrasa undertaken by the Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman is very much welcome and highly appreciated by the Basilan Ulama Council and Regional Darul Ifta of ARMM since madrasah education is one of the most effective approaches in saving our young people from the darkness of ignorance and the crudeness of extremism and terrorism,” he said.

Part of the teaching mode is to standardize the curriculum of the Islamic studies.

“In June, there be will a Madaris Summit in Basilan. The purpose is to gather the more than 1,000 ustadz across the island province of Basilan to talk about the curriculum and module that will be used in their teachings,” Hataman said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/990159