KUALA LUMPUR: A National Tahfiz Council would solve the problems faced by students at registered and non-registered tahfiz schools nationwide, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said that he would propose the national council at the Cabinet meeting next week, along with the resolutions formed at the Bumiputra Education Congress held by Umno here on Friday (May 1).
The Umno president also said that elevating the education of bumiputra should not be perceived as denying the rights of other races.
He further stated that Islamic charitable endowments made in the name of education should be structured to ensure that bumiputras cut their dependency on the private and government sectors for educational purposes.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking to the media after the closing ceremony of the Bumiputra Education Congress held in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of Umno here at the World Trade Centre.
“We are not saying that the past education policies have failed the Bumiputras but we need to create a surge based on bumiputra successes to ensure our survival for the next 100 years. When Umno celebrates our 100 years in existence, we want to be able to look back to what we have resolved to do today.
“The resolutions at the Bumiputra Education Congress must be turned into national agendas. We are not denying the rights, needs and opportunities of other races as that would be narrow-minded,” said Ahmad Zahid.
On the proposed national tahfiz council, Ahmad Zahid said that the experiment to place tahfiz graduates into the mainstream TVET system has shown the possibility of creating professionals amongst them.
“When there is a national tahfiz council, the tahfiz institutions would be better coordinated,” said Ahmad Zahid on the issue of many tahfiz schools facing various problems.
Earlier, in his speech, Ahmad Zahid said that the education of the bumiputras is a question of the survival of the Malay race.
“A strong race is not in its numbers but in its knowledge and ingenuity,” he said.
He said the education system’s challenge today is not merely to create jobs but to ensure graduates possess the means to adapt to global changes.
“There are still those denied quality education, still in poverty and not given opportunities, including skilled students such as those in TVET, who are looked down upon.
“If Umno fails today, bumiputra children would fail in their lives and be left behind economically. And we will soon face a confidence crisis among the bumiputras,” said Ahmad Zahid.
He said that the education for bumiputras should have three mandates: to create a perfect human being, build an economy with skilled labour and market value and to be nation builders.
“There is no point in having an educated clever bumiputra but without soul. There should also be more emphasis on preschool education,” said Ahmad Zahid.
