YOUNG children should not be sent to tahfiz boarding schools, said Kedah Education and Human Resources Committee chairman Dr Salmee Said.

“At the age of 6 or 7, children need the love and attention of their parents, and most are still unable to manage themselves properly,” she told Bernama in Alor Star.

She said having such young kids stay at hostels is an added burden to tahfiz schools’ management, as teachers have to pay extra attention to the children.

“To me, 13 is the best age to send children to tahfiz centres. Parents should choose centres that are registered with the government, as these have better facilities and get government aid.”

She said Kedah is among the states with the highest number of tahfiz schools.

“There are 75 tahfiz centres with more than 5,000 pupils in Kedah. These are just the ones registered with the government. Many more are not registered.”

Madrasah Tahfiz Taufiqillah principal Auzaid Ismail said pupils as young as 7 can be enrolled in tahfiz schools.

“It is easier to mould young children… they are not as naughty as teenagers, who are better at arguing and protesting.”

He added that tahfiz schools are not “rehabilitation centres” for problematic children, who should be sent to “more appropriate places”.

“Tahfiz pupils must be taught to think of their friends as family. When this happens, the risk of bullying is reduced, or the issue doesn’t arise at all,” said Auzaid, who has more than 50 pupils aged between 7 and 18 at his school in Wang Tepus, Jitra.

He said tahfiz pupils should not be involved in activities that could cause people to view them negatively or expose them to bad elements, such as asking for donations in public places.

“When they go out, they mingle with other youth, some of whom may be problematic and could influence them.” – Bernama, November 28, 2019.