BETTER DEAL FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS, TEACHERS

KOTA TINGGI (Malaysia), Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The government is to register
people's religious schools and state religious secondary schools as
government-assisted religious schools to consolidate Islamic education and give
the religious teachers a better deal.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this would enable the schools to
benefit in various ways, including aid for administration and physical
development.

They would also receive assistance in the form of trained teachers to meet
any shortage, be able to use the "Azhari" curriculum and provide for a proper
retirement scheme for the teachers, he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, made the announcement when
opening the southern state of Johor Government Religious Teachers Convention and
the 36th general meeting of the Johor branch of the National Association of
Religious Teachers of West Malaysia, here.

He said the government would also consider an application for the post of
senior teacher (Islamic education) at national religious secondary schools to be
extended to all national secondary schools.

This would raise the career prospects and professionalism of religious
teachers, he said.

Muhyiddin said the government would also introduce follow-up measures to
step up writing and reading of literature in Jawi (Arabic writing) in schools to
ensure continued use of the script.

State government and local councils could also promote the use of Jawi on
road signs and building signboards, he said.
-- BERNAMA