Ministry refusal forces cancellation of Kulhudhuffushi Quran competition

Kulhudhuffushi City Council has cancelled its annual Quran competition after the Ministry of Education declined to grant permission for schools in the city to participate.

The competition, organised jointly by the city council and the Women's Development Committee, was scheduled to take place on 5 November under the title "Kulhudhuffushi Quran Competition 1448".

The annual event is open to schools, Quran classes and members of the public, with separate categories for male and female participants.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the council said the competition could not proceed as planned because schools had not received permission from the Education Ministry to participate.

"As the competition primarily involves students representing schools, proceeding without their participation would deprive those students of their rights and would not be the fairest approach. Therefore, we have decided not to hold the competition this year," the council said.

The council expressed disappointment over the ministry's decision, noting that preparations for the event had been completed and arrangements had already been outsourced.

It said the ministry's refusal to approve school participation in activities intended to benefit students was difficult to accept.

The council argued that decisions concerning participation in such activities should fall within the authority of individual schools rather than requiring approval from the ministry.

It also criticised restrictions on activities that are not included in the national school activity calendar, describing the approach as inconsistent with the principles of decentralisation.

According to the council, preventing city-level initiatives from proceeding because they are not included in the national calendar undermines efforts to support student development at the local level.

The council called for changes to existing policies to allow schools to work with local councils on programmes intended to support students' education and development.

It said arrangements should be established to enable schools and councils to collaborate on activities organised at island and city levels.

The council explained that the Quran competition was intended to encourage the study and teaching of the Quran, develop participants' recitation skills in accordance with Tajweed rules and promote an interest in Quranic recitation among residents.

The event also aimed to develop students capable of competing in national Quran competitions, promote the practice of Quranic recitation and encourage the upbringing of children in accordance with Quranic teachings.

The council apologised to schools, Quran classes, participants, parents, organisers and others who had been preparing for the competition.

The Education Ministry's explanation for withholding permission was not included in the council's statement.