President: Will ensure each primary school graduate has read Quran in entirety

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that it was the aim of the government to ensure that each primary school graduate in the country has read the book of Holy Quran in its entirety, starting next year.

Speaking during the flag raising ceremony held Monday night to celebrate Independence Day, President Yameen said that the government gave the highest priority to teaching the Quran and Islamic religion when it comes to establishing a modern society in the country along with the economic benefits coming its way.

He said that his government had made Quran a compulsory subject during primary education, and that it was the aim of the government to ensure that every primary school graduate in the country has read the entire book of Holy Quran.

“It is one of the most important aims of the government to ensure that all students in the country complete reading the entire book of Holy Quran by the time they graduate primary school, starting from 2017,” said the President.

He said that no day passes from sunrise to sunset without the government being pressured allow for religious freedom in the country. And that the government received threats of sanctions each day because Islamic Sharia was being used in the country, and because the religion of Islam was being taught at schools.

President Yameen said that establishing Maldives Islamic University was a major step taken towards strengthening the hold of Holy Quran and Islam in the Maldivian society.

He said that students will be able to complete their PhDs at the Islamic University very soon.