CORRECTING MISIMPRESSION. NCMF Bureau of Cultural Affairs head Laman Piang speaks before the distribution of textbooks that will help improve Islamic studies in Mindanao in Davao City on Thursday (April 25). (Photo courtesy of NCMF)
COTABATO CITY -- To help address incorrect information that some Madrasah (learning) institutions in Mindanao have been breeding violent extremist ideologies among Muslim Filipino youth, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) began distributing on Thursday textbooks on the traditional “madaris” or Islamic school system.
“The distribution of the textbooks seeks to provide quality Islamic education to our Muslim Filipino youth,” Jun Alonto Datu Ramos, NCMF Public Relations and Information Division head, said in a phone interview here Friday.
Ramos said the textbooks’ launch took place at the El Bajada Hotel in Davao City on Thursday with NCMF - Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs Director Laman Piang spearheading the event.
He added that NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan is very optimistic about the effects of the textbooks in cutting misinformation among the students.
Ramos said there has been an uproar regarding the alleged role of some institutions of the madrasah system in breeding violent extremist ideologies among Muslim Filipino youth.
“The concern about veering away from the true teachings of Islam was repeatedly raised during a recent meeting between the United Nations Development and the NCMF regarding violent extremism in the Philippines, with Secretary Pangarungan challenging the youth to know what Islam truly is about,” he said.
Present during the launch were writers, validators, critiques, and madrasah administrators from Davao City, General Santos City,
Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Norte, Digos City, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Marawi, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur. (PNA)
