Islamic University of Maldives has decided to start a mega project to teach Arabic language so that it can be used in all areas of life.
Speaking to the press the chancellor of Islamic Ministry Dr.Muhammad Shaheem Ali Saeed said that this program will be the largest program conducted in the Maldives ever.
He said that the courses will be based on a curriculum developed by the university. He said that the ministry is preparing a set of text books which consists 43 books.
“The book set is named after this project and it will be prepared in a way that is related to the culture of Maldives “ said Dr.Shaheem.
He said that till now all the books that are used in Maldives are books that are intended for Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or Egypt. He said that these books will have lessons related to Maldives and will be taught in a Maldivian context. “The previous books are contextually more related to these other countries” said Dr.Shaheem.
Dr.Shaheem said that if you learn Arabic from such a text book it will be easy to study in these countries, but if you study Arabic in Maldives, it will be easier to study from a book that was prepared in Maldives. “For instance these books will have information about the airport, the Islamic Center, Muhammad Thakurufaan and many other historical information” said Dr.Shaheem.
He said that when lessons are made this way, it will be easier for students to learn.
“We are targeting this project to all areas. For example, if ministers want, we can arrange special sessions for them as well. Also, we can conduct sessions for private companies. Many Maldivian companies are doing business with Arab countries. This program will create many job opportunities” said Dr.Shaheem.
He said that till now Arabic has been used in the Maldives as a religious language but that it is not the case. “Arabic is an international language. It is a language of business, economy, and various sciences. It can be used in all areas” said Dr.shaheem.
He said that while large investments from Arabic countries are coming into the country, it will increase the job opportunities for the youth if they can speak Arabic. Dr.Shaheem said that they started gathering information to create these text books last year and now it has been done.
Dr.Shaheem said that while Maldives is progressing in all areas, we cannot just consider Arabic as a language used for religious purposes, but it should be used in all other areas as well. “Hence our courses are designed to focus on all these areas. With the will of Allah, we will start the courses on January 2018. The courses are designed in such a way that students can master special areas. That includes speaking and writing” said Dr.Shaheem.