The Muslim Education Council of Kenya has been asked to address radicalisation in schools.
Education CS Fred Matiang’i told the organisation to help the country deal with learners who drop out of school to join radical groups.
“This is also a security threat which must be addressed,”
Matiang’i said.
He said that the Muslim community alongside other religious partners must come up with strategies for eradicating the social vice.
The CS was speaking Wednesday during the National Education Conference of Muslim Scholars, Educationists and Stakeholders at the KICC.
He said that The Education Act, 2012, recognized the participation of Muslims, like other faiths, in county education boards.
Matiang’i said that the Council should work with the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (KICD) to develop a Madrassa Curriculum.
He said this will foster quality and relevant education, while at the same time help meet the national education goals and objectives.
He underscored the need for religious groups to provide guidance on how best Kenya could make the country's education value based.
“We expect religious organizations to provide guidance to make education value based, which nurtures tolerance, inclusivity, respect for life and the rule of law and patriotism in the learners,” Matiang’i said.
The CS expressed the need for County Education Boards where the Muslim faith is predominant to have a strong representation of religious group.
Zafar Niaz, chairman Muslim Education Council, said they will press for the recognition of madrassa/duksi curriculum as formal education in line with the law.
In response, Matiang’i said that the Education Act acknowledged the Madrassa/Duksi.
However, the Muslim Education Council should consult KICD to work out the substance and content of the curriculum.
KICD is legally mandated to develop, in consultations with stakeholders, curriculum offered at learning institutions below undergraduate programmes.
The CS was flanked by Education PS Belio Kipsang and the Director General Leah Rotich.