[Maghrebia] With 82% of Morocco's Imams lacking formal training, a new qualification programme aims to provide better religious guidance to the Moroccan people and to counter extremism. Nearly 45,000 imams will undergo training under a new programme launched by the government on June 26th, part of a larger plan to reform religious affairs in the kingdom.
In 2004, the first religious affairs reform plan led to an overhaul of the Islamic affairs ministry, revision of the legislation on places of worship, and the modernisation of religious instruction in Morocco.
Ahmed Toufik, Minister for Islamic Affairs and Habous, explained that the 200 million-dirham programme will also offer society a grounding in religious affairs which is in tune with the modern world and careful to preserve national identity. Some 1,500 trainers will conduct training in rural and urban communities across the kingdom, to give imams the skills they need to provide religious instruction appropriate to Moroccan society.
The training programme -- based on the Maliki rite common to Morocco's Sunni Muslims -- is compulsory for all imams. It includes spiritual education, discussion of the function of the mosque and other subjects covered by the High Council of Ulemas.
Since 2006, the state has selected 150 imams with university diplomas for a 12-month training programme. Now, all new imams will have to possess diplomas and undergo training. |