Authorities to set up more Quran learning centres

The record 4,297 students who enrolled in Holy Quran summer courses this year has encouraged the authorities to increase the number of these learning centres.

Zayed Bin Saqr Al Fallahi, chairman of the Fathers Council at the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone, said the final records for this year show that an increasing number of young people are taking part in these courses.

The lessons were delivered by 196 teachers and administrators in 14 centres across the emirate, with the initiative costing Dh500,000.

The success of the summer courses has led the supervising committee to propose a series of initiatives, including the opening of new centres in Mussafa and Bani Yas, which saw an increase of students, especially girls. The committee also proposed awards for teachers and students to encourage their participation.

Al Fallahi said the number of participants has seen a steady increase since the beginning of the Quranic summer teaching programme, which started in the 1988-89 academic year when 800 students enrolled in four centres.

Al Fallahi said the increase shows that parents are concerned about the religious education of their children and that they place increasing attention on their spiritual growth and their knowledge of Islam.

He said the council's strenuous efforts to provide Islamic education to large numbers of young people has led to the completion of 14 Quranic centres in Abu Dhabi city and its surrounding areas, seven for girls and seven for boys.

Al Fallahi said the teaching programmes range from reading, memorisation and reciting of the Holy Quran to its interpretation and a study of the life of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The courses aim to improve and enrich the young spiritually.

Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, a member of the Fathers Council and in charge of the committee that supervises the centres, said these summer courses are held in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Youth and the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf.