Maguindanao teacher teaches co-teachers Arabic language

DATU UNSAY,
Maguindanao – Teachers of a public school here are mentors early in
the day, students in the afternoon.

For a month
now, teachers of Datu Unsay Elementary School (DUES) in Datu Unsay,
Maguindanao, double as teachers and students because they study Arabic after
teaching hours.

Islamic
teacher Sarah Zailon has been spending time educating her co-teachers on Arabic
and correct pronunciation of verses of the Qur’an during the fasting month.

This has been
the daily chores of DUES teachers since June 16 when the fasting month
started. It is expected to end on July
16, the feast of Eud’l Fitr.”

We used to
stand before our students sitting in front of us in school. After regular classes, our teachers take
their seats as Arabic students,” Zailon said, adding that Arabic class focuses
on the alphabet in Arabic and its correct pronunciation.

While almost
100 percent of the pupils are Muslims, some teachers were non-Muslims and they
too study Arabic under Ustadza Zailon’s class.

It is important
for teachers to teach students the correct pronunciation of Qur’an verses, we
cannot teach what we cannot pronounce correctly,” Zailon said.

She admitted
that even Muslim teachers have difficulty in the correct pronunciation of verses
of the Arabic so there’s a need for special class. Arabic language is used in
Islamic prayers.

I want my
co-teachers to learn the correct way and correct pronunciation of verses in the
Qur’an so I am taking this extra work, free of charge, for my co-teachers,” she
said. She spends an hour or two as Arabic teachers.

Rakma Saway, a
teacher of DUES and Zailon’s student, lauded the efforts of her co-teacher. In
return, she has been trying her best to learn the language.

Mam Zailon’s
extra efforts for us teachers are of great help for us, we consider this a
blessing,” Saway said, admitting she lacks enough knowledge in Arabic reading
and understanding.

Zailon said
she intends to continue teaching Arabic to her co-teachers even after the
fasting month as her way of serving God. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)