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MUIS honours madrasah and ILHAM educators at first Madrasah Teachers Award and Graduation Ceremony (MTAGC) 2026

26 August 2026

Ceremony celebrates educators’ contributions and their role in shaping Islamic education in Singapore.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) today honoured the dedication and contributions of madrasah and ILHAM educators at the inaugural Madrasah Teachers Award and Graduation Ceremony (MTAGC) 2026, held at Suntec Singapore Convention Centre. Themed "Honouring Educators and Celebrating Achievements", the ceremony brought together educators, madrasah leaders, and community partners to recognise the vital role asatizah and teachers play in shaping the next generation of Muslim learners.

The MTAGC was established with three key objectives: to recognise the dedication, sacrifice and contribution of madrasah and ILHAM teachers; to foster continuous learning and support their professional growth; and to strengthen their role as pillars of guidance and mentors who shape knowledgeable, values-driven and resilient learners.
At the ceremony, MUIS presented several awards recognising educator contributions across the sector. The Madrasah Leadership Service Award was conferred on 7 recipients who have served as madrasah leaders for at least a decade and continue to contribute to the sector today. Other awards presented included the Madrasah Long Service Award, Madrasah Service Legacy Award (for retirees), Madrasah Tribute Award (Posthumous), and NIE Postgraduate Sponsorship Award.
The ceremony also celebrated the graduation of 20 aLIVE teachers and 23 madrasah teachers who completed their NIE programmes, as well as 21 madrasah teachers who completed the Standards-Based Professional Certificate for Teaching & Assessing Arabic Language from the Queen Rania Teacher Academy in Jordan — reflecting the sector's ongoing commitment to professional development and teaching excellence.

The role of the asatizah has grown increasingly complex. Singapore's educators must remain firmly grounded in the faith while navigating a rapidly changing environment — one shaped by the growing use of artificial intelligence and new technologies, greater access to diverse religious viewpoints, and evolving community expectations. This demands not only deep religious knowledge, but also strong pedagogy, contextual understanding, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
To meet these demands, MUIS has taken a long-term approach to developing its educators. In partnership with NIE International, the official consultancy and training arm of National Institute of Education (NIE). MUIS has developed certificate and diploma pathways for teachers in the aLIVE programme and educators from fulltime madrasahs. Selected educators are also sponsored to pursue a Master's Degree in Education at NIE. Through its partnership with the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) in Jordan, MUIS has developed a Standards-Based Professional Certificate for Arabic language instruction, bringing internationally benchmarked practices to Singapore's madrasahs. Looking ahead, the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) will further nurture future generations of asatizah equipped to provide sound religious guidance contextualised to Singapore's multicultural society.

Beyond programmes and frameworks, the milestones achieved by Singapore's madrasahs are built on the dedication of individual educators. One such educator is Ustazah Tapsirah binte Hassan, who has devoted nearly four decades to madrasah education. She began her service at Madrasah Aljunied in 1987 before moving to Madrasah Irsyad in 2011 as part of the Joint Madrasah System (JMS). At today's ceremony, six of the asatizah completing the NIE Specialist Diploma in Teaching and Learning for Full-Time Madrasah Educators were once her students — a testament to how one generation of educators nurtures the next.

Commenting on the ceremony and the road ahead, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Mr Zaqy Mohamad said: “I congratulate our graduates on reaching this important milestone. As asatizah, their learning does not end here. They now join a long tradition of educators who have shaped our madrasahs and guided generations of young people. Perhaps one day, the students they teach will stand where they are today — ready to guide another generation”.

The MTAGC 2026 was held on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Suntec Singapore Convention Centre. The ceremony brought together madrasah and ILHAM educators, school leaders, and community partners under the theme "Honouring Educators and Celebrating Achievements".

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