"We will teach Koran reading using the `Iqra` method starting in the 2012/2013 school year so that students can read the Koran since an early age," the office`s head, Yasarlin, said here on Saturday.
He said the decision was made based on proposal by Acting Governor Junaidi Hamsyah. "It is made based upon concern that a lot of school-age children and even university students still cannot read the Koran fluently while it is a must for Moslems," he said.
Koran illiteracy among elementary, junior and senior high school students in the province reaches 70 to 80 percent. Elementary school students in the province at present totaled 255,240, junior high students 80,190 and senior high school students 64,549.
He said the program was currently still being formulated by the province`s education office in cooperation with the local religious affairs ministry office.
He said the students` performance on the subject would be shown in their report cards as part of the requirements for promotion to a higher grade. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
