BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

SECONDARY school students were urged to make use of the "Celik Al-Quran" Programme to enhance and refine their Quran reciting skills especially during the month of Ramadhan.

Ustazah Hjh Rusita Hj Yahya, head of the Institute of Education Section at the Department of Islamic Studies, Ministry of Religious Affairs stated this in an interview during the launching of the "Celik Al-Quran" programme (tadarus for secondary school students) hsseld at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Al-Quran Tahfiz Institute (ITQSHHB).

She explained that celik is loosely translated as "eyes are wide open", therefore celik Al-Quran in this context means to know and be able to recite Quran properly and accurately. She said it was hoped that the programme would further enliven the month of Ramadhan with the reciting of Quranic verses and encourage students to complete reading the 30 juzuk of the holy book.

"This programme is also aimed at guiding those who are less skilled at reading the Quran as some of them might have missed the opportunities to attend religious schools, where they would normally be taught on how to read the Quran at a young age," said Hjh Rusita, who was also chairperson of the event.

Assistant Director of Islamic Education Ustazah Hjh Fatimah Hj Abd Ghani of the Islamic Studies Department said that the programme could be seen as an alternative or a platform to produce a generation of students who are skilled in reciting Quran.

It was also introduced in response to a titah of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the National Level Al-Quran Recital Competition for Adults 2009 in May this year, said the guest of honour.

The programme which is the department's annual activities during Ramadhan is the first of its kind being organised. It is designed to cater Arabic and secondary school Muslim students who are studying in Year Seven, Eight and 10 as well as Lower Six nationwide.

The programme will be carried out for a fortnight and is expected to end on September 22.

During the programme, participants are divided into five categories and assessed according to the levels of their reading skills.

The main objective of the programme is to inculcate the love for Quran reading among the young generations. (AFS1)

The Brunei Times