Campaign to promote Quranic teachings in schools

Following an increase in 'shameful' incidents being reported from Bahrain schools, a campaign will soon be launched to promote Islamic culture, morals and education among teachers and students, DT has learnt.

It has been confirmed that the new campaign would be implemented jointly by Education Ministry and Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry. It came as a result of a parliamentary proposal, which was submitted after incidents that have been described as “insulting to Islam” have recurred in several public and private schools on different occasions.

Public nuisance in this regard increased during the first week of March, when a student sang verses of the Holy Quran in a students’ creativity contest held at a private school.

The incident was highly condemned and MPs urgently formed a seven member parliamentary panel to look into the matter and hold the persons responsible for it accountable before the law. Subsequently, Public Prosecution announced that several individuals involved in the incident, including a student and two teachers, were remanded in custody.

They were all released later, while investigations are continued. Two members of the parliamentary committee that is charged to investigate the Quran singing incident spoke to DT News yesterday. They had different opinions on the launch of the campaign, as one side stressed that it was necessary to educate students and teachers more about the Holy Quran, while the other lawmaker demanded deterrent punishments for those involved. 

Campaign to see results Committee member Anas Buhindi supports the campaign as he thinks it will promote the teachings of the Holy Quran among teachers and students, and will prevent the repetition of such shameful occurrences.

He told DT News that “the proposal exists before the Quran Singing scandal took place, but it was given more significance after the incident was publicised by local media.

It’s important to educate students and teachers alike on the teachings of the Holy Quran, especially that two teachers were involved in the incident, which also happened before the noses of school officials, Mr Buhindi said.

Mr Buhindi affirmed that several meetings were held with Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi, who pledged to promote more Islamic studies into the existing

curricula. The minister also said that more Quran memorisation contests will be organised for students and winners will be given preference in terms of scholarships eligibility, he added.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Committee Jamal Buhassan told DT News that the campaign is a waste of time and efforts. I was the first who demanded to form this committee. Our intention was to make sure that deterrent punishments are introduced, not to launch a campaign with a purpose that is already implemented in schools, Islamic societies and local media. Constitutionally, the official religion of Bahrain is Islam. Launching the campaign reflects that the people of Bahrain know nothing about their religion, Mr Buhassan commented.

Mr Buhassan was the only MP among 40 parliamentarians to oppose to the proposal. He said many insulting behaviours to Isalm within schools have been emerging lately, adding that deterrent procedures should be introduced to combat the phenomenon.

The MP confirmed that the committee is continuing its investigations and will submit its final report within the next few months.