THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has issued the guidelines on the utilization of funds for the madrasah education program (MEP) to support its continued implementation.
The madrasah is an institution of Islamic instruction designed to enhance the educational development of Filipino Muslims.
In an order, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the guidelines would help sustain the gains of the MEP as it provides the rules for the availment, use, liquidation, monitoring and evaluation of the madrasah program support fund, including the money for the compensation and allowances of asatidz or teachers.
“The DepEd continuously supports the institutionalization of the MEP by providing the support mechanism necessary for its continual adoption in public schools with Muslim learners, for out-of-school Muslim youth and for private madaris implementing the refined standard madrasah curriculum,” Briones said.
The MEP has three components: Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (Alive) in the public schools; Alive for out-of-school Muslim youth; and assistance to private madaris or Muslim schools.
The guidelines state that all school division offices with public elementary and secondary schools that have organized Alive classes attended by at least 15 Muslim learners will receive the program support fund.
Compulsory service
Only asatidz rendering compulsory service for at least four hours a day from Monday to Friday, or 20 hours a week, will be entitled to a monthly compensation and allowances, according to the DepEd order.
For asatidz to qualify for compensation, they must attend summer activities such as school mapping, Brigada Eskwela, summer classes and in-service training during the months of April and May of the current school year.
According to the guidelines, an ustadz or teacher who meets the criteria is entitled to regular monthly compensation of P6,000 and an extra P500 each month from January to March and June to December for instructional materials for Alive classes.