Recently, at a meeting at the Muslim Witaya School in Koh Kaew, an MOU was reached between PPAO, represented by its CEO – Paiboon Upattisingh, and Phuket Islamic Council (PIC), represented by its chairman – Pol. Sgt. KomolDumlak, with regards to Islamic training courses for Phuket youths. The program is to be organized by PIC, with financial support from PPAO totaling 2,700,000 baht budgeted for the fiscal year 2014. The religious training courses, to include language instructions in Bahasa Melayu, Arabian and English, will be carried out in various mosques in Phuket.
Also present at the signing of the MOU were PPAO Deputy Chief Executive – Soratham Jinda, Advisor – Jeerasak Tortip, Council Secretary – Kraiwut Koomban, Director of Education, Religion and Culture Division – Ouiporn Sakultan, Director of Planning Division – Satian Kaewpraprap, PPAO officials, PIC Council Members, Imams from Phuket mosques, and guests.
The training courses aim to train a target group of 50 young people at each of the 54 mosques throughout Phuket, with a total of 2,700 students studying Malay, Arabian and English languages, to prepare them for the upcoming AEC. Additionally, the courses will also teach Islamic religion (furu- ad-dinn) and ethics. It is hope that the curses will encourage young people to use their free time productively and responsibly.
In his speech, Mr. Paiboon said: “I thank Allah to allow us to work on his behalf. Cooperation will bring success. This religious training course, which will also teach Malay, Arabian and English, has been given high consideration by our Council Members and especially by Mr. Kraiwut. We realize that with the upcoming ASEAN we must also raise our performances. Our education is ranked eighth out of ten ASEAN countries. We, in the education field, must work harder to give a brighter future to our youths. By letting religion guide us and collaborating well, we will succeed in every undertaking. PPAO alone will not succeed without the help of Phuket Islamic Council and all the Imams and teachers attached to our mosques.”
“I believe that this project, which has already been approved by our Council, will prove beneficial in preparing the young people for ASEAN. We must understand that this fund is reserved for the development of all 54 mosques in Phuket. Let us work together for the young generations” he concluded.