Some Facts
What law does the madrasahs come under?
All the madrasahs come under the Education Act. Under section 87 and 88 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act, the control of Muslim Religious Schools shall be vested in MUIS.
What are the objectives of the madrasahs?
The madrasahs are intended to produce the religious elites to lead the community on religious matters. The mosque madrasahs provide basic Islamic education i.e. fardhu ain to students who attend government schools.
How many madrasahs are there in Singapore?
There are 6 full time madrasahs and 27 part time mosque madrasahs. Following are the 6 full-time madrasahs which are registered with the Ministry of Education :
- Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah
- Madrasah Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiah
- Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah
- Madrasah Al-Maarif Al-Islamiah (all girls)
- >Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah (all girls)
- Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah
Please click here for the addresses and contacts of the madrasahs.
Who owns and runs the madrasahs?
Madrasahs were built by Muslim philantrophists to provide Islamic education for Muslim children. The madrasahs were built on wakaf lands. Today, only Madrasah Alsagoff, Madrasah Al-Maarif and Madrasah Al-Khairiah stand on wakaf land. The other properties have been acquired by the government. Each madrasah has its Management Committee which is registered under the Education Act. The members of the committee are registered by Ministry of Education (MOE) every 2 years. MOE would consult MUIS before confirming the committee members.
By virtue of section 58 and 59 Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), all wakaf lands are vested in MUIS. By virtue of section 87 and 88 of the AMLA, all activities relating to religious activities is the responsibility of MUIS.
What subjects are taught at the madrasahs?
Madrasahs :The students are taught the various subjects in Islamic Education and Arabic Language. Academic subjects such as English, Maths and Malay Language are also taught in the madrasahs.
Mosque Madrasahs :The students are taught basic religious subjects only.
What are the age groups in the madrasahs?
Madrasahs : Basically, the madrasahs follow the government school standards with regards to accepting new students. The age groups are as follows :- Primary : 7 - 12 years old ; Secondary : 13 - 16 years old ; Pre-U : 17 - 18 years old
Mosque Madrasahs :Students enter the mosque madrasahs one year after they started attending the secular schools.
How are madrasahs funded?
The madrasah receives fund from a number of channels. The channels are as follows:-- Donations from members of the public
Members of the public give their contributions directly to the madrasahs on adhoc basis. The madrasahs would on their part, organise fund raising campaigns such as walkathons, foodfairs, selling of calendars and organising public lectures.
- Grants from MUIS Capitation Grant
MUIS provides capitation grant to each madrasah on annual basis. The amount given is based on the number of students and the level which they are in. For the AVA and Library Grant, MUIS allocates about $30,000 per annum for the AV facilities and training and about $36,000 for the library for the 6 full-time madrasahs.
- Funds from Wakaf properties (Muslim Endowment)
Madrasah Alsagoff is one of many beneficiaries of the income generated by the assets of Wakaf Syed Mohamed Alsagoff. However, the income is minimal, as the properties owned by the Wakaf generate rent-controlled rents.
- Madrasah Fund by GIRO
On 15 Oct 1994, MUIS with the cooperation of the 6 full-time madrasahs, Mendaki and PERGAS (Association of Religious Teachers) launched the Madrasah Fund by GIRO. It was a collective effort to generate sufficient funds from the Muslim community to assist the madrasah.