Monday, July 14, 2008
Had an interesting conversation about madrasah with fellow colleagues during lunch just now.. Tengah sedap2 makan sekali kene shoot with so many questions..
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This is what I found from MUIS's website.
Madrasah Education in Singapore
The madrasah in Singapore have been instrumental in developing Islamic scholars who are currently holding key appointments in the religious sector namely the Registry of Muslim Marriages, Syariah Court, mosques and madrasahs in Singapore as well as the region.
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Some of the questions they asked me:
Why do parents sent their kids to Madrasah?
Well, parents have hopes and different parents have different hopes.. Maybe parents who chose not to send their kids to Madrasahs thought that the kids will have some sort of brighter future in terms of working live and such cause during our parents time, Madrasahs were "dumping" schools where if the kids couldn't prosper in secular schools, they will be transferred to Madrasahs.. They just have lil information about what's really going on in the Madrasah.. Well of course that wasn't the case all the time but most of the time..
And I say that I'm proud and grateful to be sent to a Madrasah. I can never be more grateful than this. A madrasah student is able to experience both academic and religious routes. I got to learn all the things thought in secular schools but those secular kids don't get to learn all the things I learned in Madrasah. Even if they go to part-time Madrasahs and stuff, the stuff thought over there is only 20% of what we learnt in Madrasah..
Do you want to be an Ustazah?
Honestly, I never wanted to be an Ustazah, I mean as in a full-time job.. Being an Ustazah is the hardest thing to do on Earth.. And I don't wanna teach the kids the wrong things =p I mean, I don't have the quality and the qualification and honestly, the Courage to become an Ustazah. Not necessarily all parents who sent their kids to Madrasah want them to be Ustaz or Ustazah but these parents just feel the need for their children to have a "balanced education", you get both academic and religious education..
And have you ever heard of this saying (It's a Hadith actually) that goes, the child is like a pure white cloth, it is the parent(s) who will paint and design this cloth.. But of course, once the child grew up, it will be his own choice whether to stay with the colour which the parents had painted or completely dye himself into a whole new colour..
Like I said earlier, parents sent their children to Madrasah with hopes that the kids will get a well-balanced education of both routes. I have never heard a parent say that they want their child to be a religious teacher that's why they sent their kids to Madrasah. Not that I've ever heard of.. It's all due to the Graciousness of our Lord that some kids in the Madrasah grew up to be an Ustaz or Ustazah..
And not all Ustaz and Ustazah were Madrasah oriented. For eg my Arabic Ustaz, Ustaz Ramzi who was from a secular school but had interest in religious education and his deepest interest was particularly the Arabic language. And what about Ustaz Nasiruddin who was from Victoria and achieved so many distinctions in his O level but due to his love for the Arabic language, he joined Madrasah Aljunied and had to be put into a lower form due to his lack in Arabic and religious qualification. Look at him now, a successful and prosperous Ustaz and speaker..
Don't you think that if all the Madrasah people become religious teachers, there will be an overflow of Ustazs/Ustazahs in Singapore?
No, even though many Madrasah students went to pursue their education and become a Religious teacher, trust me, there were never enough Ustaz and Ustazah in Singapore.. So no matter how many Madrasah students become a religious teacher, the number is never enough. Trust me, I know, I was from a Madrasah..
Anyway I believe those who study religious education with a pure sincere heart, Allah will pour more Blessings upon them than those who don't. Honestly, I've never met an Ustaz or Ustazah who is poor or have financial difficulties, some might look like they don't have money but they're just being humble. Again I know cause I'm from a Madrasah..
Anyway, we didn't choose the Madrasah, the Madrasah chose us hahahax =P It's all due to the Graciousness of the Lord s.w.t that we are those few selected ones in Singapore to receive Madrasah education.
Not that those who went to secular school are not blessed, it's just that we're meant to take different routes and we never know what Allah's planned for our lives.
Again, it's all up to individuals..
Furthermore, the Madrasah in Singapore has achieved universal record in terms of education looong before secular institutions for eg The Al-Maarif (My Alma Mater =D) Girls were the first ladies in this Whole Wide World to go to Al-Azhar University, the second Oldest university in the world. And even the first university in the world is an Islamic university, University of Al-Karaouine in Morocco. Okay I'm getting out of topic here..
I just hope that people will stop looking at Madrasah education as having a "bleak future" and I hope that the public will be given the right information of the real Madrasah system.. Yes, Madrasahs are poor and look so shabby but that's because we're not given what's ours.. Okay this is going to be political and I don't wanna get sued so I'm not gonna say anything any further =D
And honestly, I hate it when people say that Madrasah educated people should behave in a certain manner, all prim and proper and well mannered and sweet and quiet and stuff. That is just the same like IF I were to stereotype secular educated people to behave like Westeners who are too liberal and indulge in sociable lifestyle and practice free sex and booze and stuff, totally unreligious..
Again, it's all up to individuals..
Am I not right? =)Labels: Madrasah, stereotype
secrets within @ 7:21 PM
