Tahfiz schools: Education Ministry ready to cooperate with state govts

The Ministry of Education is willing to cooperate and collaborate with state governments on the affairs of religious (tahfiz) schools, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said the ministry was open to hearing any views and suggestions to ensure that the fire tragedy at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz centre here on Thursday did not recur.

"If we read the media reportS today, we see most state governments have begun an analysis to re-look into the management of tahfiz schools.

"I just want to emphasise here that tahfiz schools are under the state governmentS, but in the Federal Constitution itself it is stated that the the Malay Rulers are the heads of Islam in their respective states. So we need to have a harmonious and orderly way of cooperating in this matter," he told reporters after officiating the Fun Ride @Ampang cycling programme here today.

He was commenting on the fire at the tahfiz centre which killed 21 students and two teachers who also served as wardens.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government would hold a special meeting on Tuesday to review the safety aspects of tahfiz schools nationwide.

-- BERNAMA