80 pupils at SRI Al Afsari cannot sit for UPKK exam as the school is not registered with JAIS, lacking fire safety and planning approvals.
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department has confirmed that Sekolah Rendah Islam Al Afsari is not registered with the department.
This has resulted in 80 pupils being barred from sitting for the Ujian Penilaian Kelas Al-Quran dan Fardhu Ain examination this year.
JAIS director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the UPKK examination is organised by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, with JAIS serving as the intermediary body in the state.
He stated that SRI Al Afsari is not registered with JAIS as stipulated under Section 12 of the Control of Islamic Religious Schools Enactment 1988.
“Since the school is not registered with JAIS, JAKIM, as the organiser of the UPKK examination, has not permitted pupils from the school to sit for the 2025 UPKK examination,” he said in a statement.
The statement was issued following media reports that 80 students from a private religious primary school in Puchong were unable to sit for the UPKK.
Mohd Shahzihan said the school was previously known as SRI Al Fakri and was only granted temporary establishment approval on November 29, 2012.
JAIS had reminded the school to apply for full registration after the temporary period ended, but the application was only resubmitted by SRI Al Afsari on December 21, 2023.
JAIS would consider full registration once the school complies with the prescribed curriculum and requirements.
This includes obtaining health and safety certification from the Ministry of Health and the Fire and Rescue Department, as well as planning approval from the local authority.
“At the moment, SRI Al Afsari cannot be registered under the law as it has yet to obtain JBPM’s endorsement and does not have PBT approval for planning permission,” he said.
The UPKK examination is scheduled to be held from November 17 to 20. – Bernama
