Hataman leads turnover of Islamic school in Basilan

SUMISIP, Basilan – Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday led the turnover of a P20-million worth Islamic school building to the community to help curb the spread of radicalism and to propagate the true teachings of Islam. The infrastructure will not only be used to impart the correct teachings of Islam, but also a formation center, particularly for out-of-school youth who are the potential recruits of terror groups. They should be brought to this kind of school, Gov. Hataman said.Building more madaris – an Arabic term for Islamic educational institution – is one of the initiatives to address misinformation about Islam, said the governor who has been in the forefront together with Islamic scholars in the fight against radicalism. We have discussed this with the Ulama Council in Basilan that as part of the anti-terror campaign, the building of formation centers in Islamic schools will help counter the propaganda of terrorist groups, Gov. Hataman added.The newly built Islamic school is located in the coastal barangay of Buli-Buli, which is the town center of Sumisip south of Basilan. The school occupies a one-hectare compound with more than 10 classrooms that could accommodate 1,000 college and secondary students.At least 16 Muslim clerics regularly provide Islamic studies, particularly Islamic Theology in the school. It also has guest instructors from nearby Isabela City to teach specialized Islamic subjects. The school will also offer vocational and agri-fishery courses. This is not a simple school, but also a formation center in Sumisip, Gov. Hataman said. This will be replicated in the cities of Lamitan and Isabela, and also in other provinces in ARMM, he added.Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, vice-chair of the Basilan Ulama Council, said they welcome the establishment of the new facility, saying this will boost the ulamas’ campaign to stop the ideology of extremism and radicalism. The inauguration of the madrasa undertaken by Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman is very much welcome and highly appreciated by the Basilan Ulama Council and the Regional Darul Ifta of ARMM since madrasa education is one of the most effective approaches in saving our young people from the darkness of ignorance and the crudeness of extremism and terrorism, Hataman stressed. Therefore, we urge our leaders to do the same with Governor Mujiv’s initiative in their areas, he said.Part of the objective in establishing the school is to standardize the curriculum of Islamic studies. In June, there will be a Madaris Summit in Basilan. The purpose is to gather more than 1,000 Ustadz across the island province to talk about the curriculum and module that will be used in their teachings, Gov. Hataman said. (Bureau of Public Information)