New Islamic college to groom religious leaders, those who can help social sector

It will offer them full-time undergrad course to major in Islamic studies or social sciences

- Lee Li Ying

An upcoming Islamic college will groom not only religious leaders but also those who want to contribute to the social sector, by offering them a four-year, full-time undergraduate course to major in either Islamic studies or social sciences.

The Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) will work with established institutions to deliver its programmes. These include the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Egypt's Islamic advisory body Dar al-Ifta, the University of Jordan, and the Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco.

Leaders of these institutions and other universities, like Al-Azhar in Egypt, will be on the SCIS advisory panel to contribute their perspectives on contemporary issues impacting Muslim minorities.

The details were announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov 10 at a forum to commemorate the fifth anniversary of M3, a tie-up between three key Malay/Muslim organisations serving the community.

The college, first mooted in 2016, is part of efforts to train religious scholars and teachers, also known as asatizah, to provide sound and relevant religious guidance to Muslims in Singapore's multiracial and multi-religious context.

PM Wong had announced its name during his first National Day Rally speech in August. It is not yet known when the college will open.

In his speech on Nov 10, he said the SCIS will strengthen Singapore's capabilities to nurture and groom a pipeline of future asatizah.