MANILA, Philippines -- In a bid to popularize the Standard Curriculum in private madaris, the Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that it will extend assistance to madaris looking for funding as long as they pass the necessary requirements.

DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus said the DepEd was set to provide help to madaris or Arabic schools that integrated the standard curriculum with the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) program. He said the initiative was aimed at mainstreaming the private madaris.

"Mainstreaming Madrasah Education in our system of basic education is one of the initiatives we have been undertaking to give our Muslim schoolchildren an education that is culturally sensitive," Lapus said in a statement.

Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs Manaros Boransing said the project would provide comprehensive education to Muslim children.

"While the ALIVE Program is integral to their education, we also recognize the need for them to learn the standard subjects taught in public schools -- Mathematics, English, Science, Filipino, and Makabayan."

The Deped said it would help schools with funding needs and facilitate their grant application to the financial assistance program extended by Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Under the OIC’s funding program, madaris can avail of funds to cover the improvement of physical facilities such as classrooms, furniture, laboratory equipment, and libraries. DepEd will help schools who pass the requirements.

Part of the assistance is expected to go to capability building, which includes training of Muslim teachers or asatidz, management training for administrators and finance managers, and installation of accounting and financial systems.

Before private madaris can avail of the financial assistance, they must obtain a permit to operate from the DepEd Regional Office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). They should also offer the Standard Curriculum for Private Madaris as prescribed under DepEd Order 51, s. 2004.