Ministry of Islamic Affairs to start Quran classes for children with autism

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that it would conduct special Quran classes for children with autism during the vacation period which has just begun.

Dr. Muhammad Shaheem Ali Saeed said today that these classes would be free, and that they would be conducted through the Centre for the Holy Quran.

Speaking at a ceremony held today at the Ministry to announce participation of some 18 companies which have agreed to assist the Ministry with its “A Quran Copy for Every Maldivian” program, the Minister said that the Quran classes would commence very soon, though he did not give a specific commencement date.

The Minister said that parents have been complaining about the large fees charged by Quran classes for special sessions for children with autism, and that he was personally very much concerned about it.

“Some Quran classes have put notices on their notice boards saying that while an ordinary child would be charged a small amount as fee, a child with autism would be charged with as much as MVR 2000 per month. In my opinion that is a very sad thing. Those children must be given a better option”, said the Minister.

The Minister also said that his office would work on arrangements to conduct special classes for children with autism on a free-of-charge basis permanently.

The Minister also said that Arabic language would be a module in every course conducted by the Center for the Holy Quran starting from the coming January.