Bagan Datuk: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on tahfiz schools to register with their respective state governments to ensure they do not miss out on government assistance, including upgrades to their facilities. He reassured that tahfiz schools remain a focus for the government.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid highlighted that approximately 2,500 tahfiz schools are not registered with the state authorities. He suggested that fears related to non-compliance with fire safety regulations or incomplete dormitory facilities might be preventing these schools from registering. He encouraged registration, emphasizing that reliance solely on donations and parental fees is insufficient. He promised his assistance conditional on their registration, during his visit to the Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz Tuminah Hamidi construction site.

The Bagan Datuk MP further assured that the Unity Government is committed to providing necessary support to registered schools, ensuring a conducive learning environment for students. Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, stated the government’s intention to extend equal opportunities to graduates of religious schools, comparable to those from other educational streams.

He mentioned his efforts to integrate TVET into maahad tahfiz schools, enabling students to pursue technical and vocational subjects, which is part of a broader strategy to transform the educational ecosystem to be more inclusive. Furthermore, Ahmad Zahid noted that the first Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz Ulul Albab in Melaka currently accommodates 80 students.

Regarding the ongoing construction of Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz Tuminah Hamidi, he expressed optimism that the project would reach completion by the year’s end.