GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government will bring its Madaris education program to more communities this year.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera disclosed the move as he reaffirmed his commitment to support the program and provide the necessary mechanisms to facilitate its institutionalization in the area.
He specifically assured the local government's continued support for the Asatidz or Madrasah teachers, which held its first general assembly at the Social Hall of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos here Wednesday.
"A stronger cooperation between the Asatidz and the city government is needed to improve the implementation of Madaris education in the city," he said during the gathering.
The mayor expressed gratitude to the Asatidz for providing relevant education to young Muslims and molding them to become better and responsible citizens of the country.
He also acknowledged the big role of the Asatidz in maintaining peace and order in the city.
The Madaris program is one of the component projects of the City Mayor's Office's Indigenous Cultural Communities Affairs Division (ICCAD).
Under the program, some 3,622 Madaris pupils and students learn Arabic literacy and Islamic values education on Saturdays and Sundays.
These are facilitated by 138 Asatidz in 38 Madaris centers located in 15 barangays of the city.
Some Madaris centers are also facilitating adult literacy classes to educate Muslim parents who are interested to learn how to write and understand Arabic.
Rivera said that aside from providing the honorarium of the Asatidz, the local government will give them free uniforms.
The city government has been supporting the Madaris program for almost two decades now by providing monthly honorarium and capacity-building training to the Asatidz.
During the assembly, the Asatidz reorganized the General Santos City Madaris Federation and identified their priority activities for this year.
Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda, ICCAD chief, said the lineup of activities include the conduct of the Musabaqa or the citywide sports and literary competition in April.
"We will also hold trainings, capacity-building activities and other projects that are responsive to the needs of Muslims and Indigenous Peoples in the city," she added. (PNA)
