madrasahs Islamic religious schools. Historically, madrasahs began as schools for the learning of Islamic subjects. Classes were conducted in the halls and annexes of mosques to educate Muslims about Islam. They served an important role during the colonial period as they offered affordable education. Many of the full- time madrasahs that exist today were established by philanthropists. Part- time madrasahs are usually attached to mosques and organizations, and provide religious education for students who attend mainstream schools.

Like other private schools, madrasahs are regulated by the Education Act. While the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) makes provisions for Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) to administer the madrasahs, in practice, many of the madrasahs are managed by their respective boards of trustees.

All full- time madrasahs offer primary- and secondary- level education, while three (Al- Maarif, Aljunied and Wak Tanjong) offer education up to the pre- university level. All full- time madrasahs teach Islamic subjects, as well as secular subjects including English, Mathematics and Malay. While each madrasah determines its own curriculum, all provide secular curricula similar to those in schools run by the government. For the religious subjects, students are required to sit for common examinations administered by MUIS, such as the Sijil Thanawi Empat taken at Secondary Four. Students in part- time madrasahs also sit for common examinations administered by MUIS.

Madrasahs are privately funded. Some receive donations from the public or from wakaf (endowment) properties, while others undertake their own fund- raising initiatives. The Ministry of Education provides a grant to some madrasahs on a quarterly basis. This amounts to $10 per student per year. MUIS also provides grants to madrasahs on an annual basis. Furthermore, to generate a more consistent flow of funding, MUIS, with the cooperation of the six full- time madrasahs, Mendaki and PERGAS, launched the Madrasah Fund in 1994.

Enrolment in madrasahs has fluctuated over the years. In the 1970s, the number of madrasahs declined due to the expansion of the public education system and the resettlement of villagers to housing estates in new towns. In the early 1980s, some people even viewed madrasahs as a ‘last resort’ for children who could not secure a place in other schools. In the late 1980s, however, madrasahs underwent a revival. Many Muslim parents saw them as providing a balanced education. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, there has been a steady increase in enrolment.

In 1998, preliminary discussions regarding compulsory education sparked a debate as to whether enrolment in madrasahs at the primary level fulfilled the requirements of compulsory education. The government has since allowed madrasahs to provide education at the primary level, subject to qualifying standards. At the same time, annual enrolment at madrasahs at the primary level is kept under 400.

Photo credit: Sin Kam Cheong