JOLO, Sulu, Philippines – Muslim leaders led by Rep. Habib Tupay Loong (1st district, Sulu) lauded Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro for pursuing his plan to further strengthen the system and method of teaching in  various Madrasah (Arabic word for schools) in Muslim-dominated provinces in the country.

Loong, chairman of the Committee on Muslim Affairs at the Lower House, said strengthening the Madrasah system of education would eventually provide Muslim students a chance to be at par with their non-Muslim classmates in terms of knowledge, ability, performance, and representation in government after completion of college education.

The Sulu solon also thanked President Aquino for ordering DepEd officials to uplift the Madrasah system of education, and allotted about P300 million to fund training and other initiatives for the development of the Islamic education system in the country.

Luistro also disclosed that DepEd is now strengthening the Madrasah system of education to provide Muslim students an equal footing with students from regular schools in finding employment after graduation.

It will also give them (Muslims graduates) a chance of being employed as their counterparts in sectarian and non-sectarian schools because they have been properly prepared, Luistro explained.

Loong said that in 2004, the Madrasah system was mainstreamed nationwide particularly in Muslim areas in Mindanao under the auspices and programs of DepEd.

He said DepEd also adopted Department Order 51, putting in place the teaching of Arabic Language and Islamic Values for (mainly) Muslim children in public schools.

The same order authorized the implementation of the Standard Madrasah Curriculum (SMC) in the private Madaris, he said.

While there have been recognized Islamic schools, like the Ibn Siena Integrated School in Marawi City, the Sarang Bangun LC in Zamboanga City, and the SMIE in this town, their Islamic teachings varied, Loong claimed.

Adding that since 2005, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) funded the DepEd project “Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM)” and assisted a group of private Madaris seeking government permit to operate (PTO) and implement the SMC.

These private Madrasahs, Loong said, are located throughout the Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9, Northern Mindanao or Region 10, Region 12, and in the five provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Early this year, Luistro also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with ARMM acting Gov. Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong  for the implementation of Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) curricula in the ARMM.

Luistro also released P75 million for preparatory activity expenses, such as the orientation and training of Muslim teachers or “asatidz.”

ALIVE’s curriculum for the elementary level, which was first implemented in School Year 2005-2006, was reviewed and refined last year by curriculum experts from the DepEd’s Bureau of Elementary Education and Ulama (Muslim educators).