The Bangsamoro Government, through the Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) launches the first-ever public madrasah in the region and the entire country at Barangay Balabaran in this city on July 26, 2024. (Faisal Camsa Jr./BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Madrasahs (Islamic schools) have played a crucial role in empowering Bangsamoro youth by imparting knowledge and skills relevant to their beliefs and culture. This was highlighted during the launch of the first-ever public madrasah in the region and the entire country, held at Barangay Balabaran in this city on July 26.
The establishment of said institution aimed to foster well-rounded students through a holistic approach, providing a structured and balanced curriculum. This curriculum combines tahderiyyah for kindergarten, Islamic Studies and Arabic Language (ISAL), and the DepEd national curriculum.
Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) Mohagher Iqbal is determined to start the public madrasah, stating that, even though everything is not complete, the Bangsamoro government has made significant strides towards balanced education.
“This is the first public madrasah not only here but in the entire Philippines, courtesy of MBHTE and the Bangsamoro Government. We really want this to happen. That is not only in the mind but in the administrative, and in the education code on how we build the public madrasah.” Iqbal said.
“Public madrasah means owned and funded by government. If you see that the public school has division offices and then there are many schools more than thousands, that is our view on public madrasah,” he added.
The Minister further stated that there will be division offices and a principal in every madrasah, but they will not establish them right away because the public madrasah building is still under development.
As provided in the Bangsamoro Education Code of 2021, Section 3. Applicability: “This Act shall apply to the Bangsamoro Education System, consisting of all education systems including formal, non-formal, and informal, public and private learning institutions, at all levels: basic, higher, technical, and Madaris education.”
“Even though everything is not complete, we have started, and the rest will follow. We are determined to achieve our goals,” Iqbal stressed.
Meanwhile, MBHTE-Madaris Education Director General Tahir Nalg emphasized the determination of the Bangsamoro government in establishing public madrasahs.
“Alhamdulillah, with the advent of BARMM, one of the focus areas is to strengthen madaris education. The establishment of the Directorate General of Madaris Education as part of MBHTE is evidence of this commitment,” said Nalg.
“It doesn’t end there. Many programs have been launched by our Honorable Minister in support of madaris education. Last week, we were in Metro Manila for a madrasa partners’ forum with national officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) to showcase how the madrasah educational system operates,” he added.
The Director General stated that the forum was successful and witnessed by dozens of diplomats, senators, members of Congress, and national government agencies, among others. (Majid Nur/BIO)
