TAMPIN, The third cohort for the Negeri Sembilan ISBAT (Sanctions) Programme next year will require teaching certification from the State Mufti Department. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said this new requirement is part of improvements for the intake session scheduled for June next year. "Participants will receive a monthly allowance of RM1,000 for two years. We hope those who memorise the Quran will positively impact their local communities," he told a press conference following the 13th Quran Memorisation Graduation and Excellence Award Ceremony at Institut Tahfiz Al Quran Negeri Sembilan (ITQAN) here today. He said 20 candidates were selected for the first cohort since the programme's launch in 2021, with a budget of RM260,000. For the second cohort, 40 ISBAT holders were appointed with an annual budget of RM520,000 starting from 2023. "There are 10 ISBAT holders in each of the Seremban, Port Dickson, Rembau, Jempol, Kuala Pilah, Jelebu districts and five in Tampin," he said. He added tha t the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) requires each ISBAT holder to provide community service in their assigned districts. This is part of the National Tahfiz Education Policy which aims to standardise the tahfiz education system in Malaysia. Aminuddin also said that the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) recently allocated RM505,800 to 67 private Islamic education institutions to strengthen Islamic and Tahfiz education. This includes RM19,200 for ITQAN to support student activities and lecturer training. Source: BERNAMA News Agency