For theological education in Saudi Arabia authorization of Education Ministry needed
ASTANA. June 17. KAZINFORM - For religious education in Saudi Arabia one will need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Education and Science, says the Chairman of the Agency for Religious Affairs Kairat Lama Sharif at the Government Hour in the Majilis.
"From the first day of the Agency, we have taken the matter to special control. If in 2011 the number of students was 500, due to the fact that we had to work actively with the governors, we have received from the consulates in Muslim countries all the data about the students who are studying in theological universities. This list has been passed to Akimats (local administration), akims (mayors) have talked with the parents of those students about harmfulness of education they were getting in some of the religious institutions where the teaching is based on non-traditional for Kazakhstan branch of Islam. Indeed, many parents were not aware of the information, but when they realized they took appropriate actions. With this in 2011-2012 one hundred and thirty citizens of Kazakhstan are safely back in Kazakhstan and are continuing to study in the Kazakh-Egyptian university called "Nur" and other madrasas, " said K.Lama Sharif.
As stated by him, at present, 392 students from Kazakhstan are getting educated in Arab countries, including more than 200 in Egypt, 59 students - in Saudi Arabia, 60 - in Pakistan and other countries. Work is underway to return them to Kazakhstan.
Chairman of the agency also said that negotiations with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islam of Saudi Arabia have been held and the agreement has been reached that Kazakh students will not be able to enroll in Saudi universities without the permission of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan. Similar work is underway with Turkey and other countries.