Chapter 1 - Report of the Education and Public Relations Group Due to lack of funds, most schools do not provide a proper area in which teachers can work and interact. The office is not equipped with standard equipment like computers, telephones, fax machines, photocopiers or suitable furniture. The pay scheme for teachers and school staff is not standardised, with salaries varying from RM200-1,200 per month. Some teachers are paid RM200-450, leaving them in the hardcore poor category. (iii) Hostels Schools other than KAFA provide hostels for students. All those inspected were found to have amenities such as clean water and electricity. However, the buildings mainly comprise old bungalows or unused mosques. These were over-crowded, dilapidated, uncomfortable and unsafe – some examples are Tahfizul Darul Quran in Batu Talam; Mahad Tahfiz Al Quran in Kerdau; SMA Naim in Kuala Krau and SMA Al Ittifaqialyah Islamiah in Kg Guai, Temerloh. The hostels lack many facilities or, if these exist, are not well maintained. Cleanliness of the premises is another issue. The children are therefore deprived of the right to a safe, comfortable, clean and cheerful place in which to live, and to a reasonable amount of privacy. (iv) Teachers The majority of schools that are not registered with the MOE do not have the services of trained teachers. Most of the teachers said they apply common sense, as well as their experience and observation of fellow-teachers in conducting lessons. They lack the necessary knowledge of pedagogy, child psychology, child development and other skills to be effective teachers, thus depriving the children of quality education. There is almost no systematic monitoring by the relevant agencies. To enhance the professionalism of teachers, the schools conduct in-house training by inviting trained teachers, senior teachers and lecturers. The Commission was told that the MOE’s Teachers Training Division and the State Islamic Affairs Department have organised ad hoc short courses but that not all the teachers have been able to attend these. (v) Curriculum The religious schools registered with the MOE conduct lessons based on the national curriculum as well as that prepared by the State Islamic Affairs Department. The students sit the national public examinations (PMR and SPM) as well as a special examination on religious studies that is managed by the State Islamic Affairs Department. Schools registered with the State Islamic Affairs Department apply its curriculum and do not offer national public examinations. The Tahfiz schools do not train students for any national public examination, but apply a curriculum from Pakistan or Egypt, among other countries. The MOE’s Textbook Department only provides book aid to schools registered with the Ministry and State Islamic Affairs Department. Students in other types of religious schools have to buy textbooks from the State Islamic Affairs Department. 30