Thailand Sending Ustads To Malaysia To Study Our Religious School Education System

Thailand will send religious teachers from "pondok schools" in the restive southern provinces to Malaysia to learn the education system that incorporates religion and academic subjects, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Monday.

He said the system in Malaysia could be used in religious schools in the three Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to produce all-round calibre students.

"But we are not going to force ustads to go to Malaysia. If they are willing to learn, we will send them," he said at his monthly press conference Monday.

Surayud's administration had sought Malaysia's assistance to develop the "pondok school" in the southern provinces so that children coming out from the privately-run religious schools would be able to go for higher education and seek employment in any field.

A delegation of high-ranking officials from the Malaysia's Education Ministry met their Thai counterparts in Songkhla and here recently to expand collaborations in the education sector, including helping the religious schools.

***** Hopefully by this exchange of visits and the introduction of our system, the Thai Muslims could lift their academic and subsequently their economic status. If this Malaysian assistance helps even a tiny bit in relieving the impasse between Bangkok and the Southern Provinces, the effort will be well worth it.

You can read the full Bernama report HERE.
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