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No radical teachings at madrasas, says Moulavi
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With the combining of local syllabus to the Islamic studies offered at Madrasas or Arabic colleges in the Trincomalee district, the schools are gaining popularity with high competition to get a place, a senior Islamic religious leader said.
“There were around 200 applications to select students for a class of 40. The students are being taught the school syllabus and Islamic studies at the same time,” Moulavi Mohammed Yusuf Hidayathullah, a school principal, told the Sunday Times.
At least twenty madrasas schools are located in the districts. They conduct classes from grade nine to the GCE Ordinary Level (OL) and some prepares students for the Advanced Level (AL) examinations too. In the morning, Islamic studies are conducted while in the evening other subjects are taught.
Denying that these schools are teaching Islamic fundamentalism or radicalised thoughts, he said the main goal of these schools was to create a responsible and understanding community and put them on the correct path from a young age.
Most of the madrasas are residential, giving admissions to students from across the country. Students are given accommodation and three meals. Every student has to pay a fee ranging from Rs. 800 to Rs. 5,000.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province Education Ministry Secretary Asanka Abeyawardana said most of the madrasa schools had been registered as Sunday schools.
“They are allowed to prepare students for the G.C.E examinations after they register with the Examinations Department. As a provincial ministry, we have no direct jurisdiction on them,” he said.