THE Davao City Government created a Madrasah unit to help educate more Muslim children in the city.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio signed and issued Executive Order (EO) No. 53 Series of 2021, on October 1, and will take effect immediately.
EO 53 orders the creation of the Madrasah Comprehensive Development and Promotion Unit (MCDPU).
The order aims to educate Muslim children with "true values" history, Arabic writing, and reading, science and teachings of Islam to become law-abiding citizens contributive to social and moral development; formulate plans and programs for the growth of Madrasah education in Davao City, and supervise the implementation of the Madrasah Program in Davao City.
Its other responsibilities include spearheading community outreach programs, initiating and developing programs to promote Eid or Islamic Festivals, and developing a unique feat of various Muslim tribes in Davao City; assisting Muslim constituents in Davao City; and promoting Davao City as a peaceful city where all cultures and religions peacefully coexist.
"Madrasah development is hampered by constraints, which necessitates the support of the local government in order to help in the provision of adequate education assistance," the EO states.
"It is imperative that there will be an institutionalization of madrasah development in the city," the EO added.
The City Government created the Madrasah Comprehensive Development and Promotion Program to be the lead agency "in delivering basic government services in Muslim Communities all over" the city "in providing educational opportunities."
MCDPU’s composition includes the Local School Board as its policy-making body while the executive program director shall manage all operational and functional work in the implementation of the Madrasah programs including curricular development; and oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s programs and services and special projects monitors the day-to-day delivery of the programs.
The operation assistant or executive assistant shall assist the executive program director in doing administrative duties and clerical functions; and work on other related functions as directed by the same. The supervising program director shall oversee the coordination and administration of all aspects of an ongoing program including planning, staffing, leading and controlling program activities. District supervisors shall supervise the activities of the cluster headteachers in their respective districts, assist the executive program director in the preparation of Arabic educational program; and monitor and evaluate the performance of the Madrasah teachers.
The cluster headteachers, meanwhile, shall supervise the different Madrasah centers within their cluster by checking classrooms, lesson plans, and class records. They will also be classroom teachers of the center in case of emergency.
The Arabic teachers shall identify clear teaching and learning objectives, specifying how they will be taught and assessed; prepare lesson plans, lecture materials and be actively involved in developing curriculum; include Islamic Integration in lesson plans wherever possible; ensure students acquire and consolidate knowledge, skills, and understanding appropriate to the subject taught; and check the students work efficiently and thoroughly.
The funding for the MCDPU’s operations and programs will be charged against the Special Education Fund, subject to the evaluation of the Local School Board and the usual accounting and auditing rules.