Answer for Oral Question PL221

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Md. Yusof

YANG BERHORMAT PEHIN ORANG KAYA JOHAN PAHLAWAN DATO SERI SETIA AWANG HAJI ADANAN BIN BEGAWAN PEHIN SIRAJA KHATIB DATO SERI SETIA HAJI MD. YUSOF asked MENTERI PENDIDIKAN to state the results of the assessment of the Impact of Integrating Religious Subjects into General Education in terms of understanding, application and appreciation of religious character, particularly Fardhu 'Ain, beginning at the primary education level to guide the younger generation through a continuous learning process, especially in the preservation and strengthening of the sound aqidah of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pendidikan

Alhamdulillah, the Integration of Religious Subjects into General Education began to be implemented on 1 November 2023. Since its implementation, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs have continued to work together in curriculum development, the preparation of textbooks, the implementation of teaching and learning, as well as the assessment of students' achievements.

The Islamic Education curriculum was developed with the involvement of experts from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan and the State Mufti Department. To date, the Islamic Education curriculum for Year 2 and Year 3 students has been developed and implemented in stages.

The curriculum content covers Tauhid, Ibadah, the Quran, Akhlak, Amali Ugama, Islamic History and Jawi Lessons. The content is arranged according to the students' developmental stages, abilities and learning needs. This approach enables students to understand the fundamentals of religion from an early stage and subsequently strengthen their knowledge and practice of Fardhu 'Ain in an organised and continuous manner throughout each school year.

In terms of the understanding, application and appreciation of religious character, assessment and monitoring are continuously maintained through formative and summative assessments in line with the Student Assessment Guidelines. Students are assessed through teaching and learning activities, an Assessment Task each term and School-Based Examinations at the end of the year.

To ensure consistency in implementation across all schools, the Assessment Task, assessment instruments, marking schemes and assessment rubrics are centrally prepared by the Department of Islamic Studies. Assessment marks are recorded online, enabling student achievement data to be collected, analysed and monitored centrally. The assessment findings are used to improve the curriculum, teaching and learning methods, as well as support programmes from time to time.

In terms of Quranic proficiency, a special matrix has been developed to establish the level of proficiency in reading Iqra' and the Quran according to age group. Formative assessments are also carried out for the Quran and Amali Ugama Components to continuously monitor students' progress.

In terms of the application of Fardhu 'Ain, the Department of Islamic Studies also implements the Prayer Guidance Programme for Year 2 students. Students' achievements are assessed through three main components, namely ablution, prayer and the memorisation of surahs. Records of Fardhu Prayer in Government and Private Primary Schools are also prepared for Year 2 to Year 5 students to assist schools in monitoring and strengthening the implementation of the five daily obligatory prayers among students.

In addition, the Young Bilal and Imam Programme is implemented to provide students with practical experience and to build their confidence, leadership, discipline and appreciation of religious practices.

To ensure that the curriculum content is based on the aqidah of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama'ah, the Curriculum Division, Assessment Division and Department of Islamic Studies continually work together with the State Mufti Department to review and update the Islamic Education content. The preschool curriculum for five-year-old children has also been prepared, providing early exposure to Iqra' reading, hijaiyah letters and Arabic as the foundation of Islamic education.

Overall, this integration has made the teaching of Islamic Education more organised, integrated and continuous. Assessment of students' understanding, mastery of Fardhu 'Ain practices and appreciation of religious character will continue to be carried out on an ongoing basis to ensure that students not only acquire religious knowledge, but are also able to practise it in their daily lives and firmly uphold the aqidah of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.