PART 2
REGISTRATION OF MUSLIM RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
Muslim religious schools must be registered
5.—(1)  A person must not conduct a Muslim religious school unless it is registered by the Majlis.
(2)  A person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Application for registration
6.—(1)  A person who wishes to conduct a Muslim religious school must apply to the Majlis to register the school in such form and manner as the Majlis determines.
(2)  The Majlis may require the applicant to furnish such information and documents as the Majlis considers necessary for the purpose of considering the application.
Grant of application
7.—(1)  The Majlis may, after considering an application under rule 6 and after making such inquiry as it may consider necessary, and if satisfied that the requirements for registration are met, register the Muslim religious school.
(2)  The requirements for registration are as follows:
(a)the curriculum offered by the school (including the framework and the principles on which the curriculum is based) meets the curriculum requirements specified by the Majlis;
(b)the learning materials of the school meet the requirements for learning materials specified by the Majlis;
(c)the school has appropriate policies, facilities and equipment for —
(i)the curriculum offered by it; and
(ii)the safety and welfare of its students;
(d)every proposed member of the teaching staff of the school is either a recognised Islamic teacher or a recognised Quranic teacher;
(e)the proposed proprietor of the school is a fit and proper person to conduct a Muslim religious school.
(3)  The registration of a Muslim religious school —
(a)is subject to the conditions in rule 9, and such other conditions as the Majlis may impose in the particular case; and
(b)is for 3 years if not earlier cancelled or suspended under rule 11.
Refusal of application
8.—(1)  Despite rule 7(1), the Majlis may refuse to grant an application under rule 6 if —
(a)any requirement for registration in rule 7(2) is not met;
(b)the proposed proprietor of the school has (when a proprietor of the same or another Muslim religious school) contravened any provision of these Rules;
(c)the school has previously been refused registration or its registration has been cancelled;
(d)the proposed school premises are unsafe or unsuitable for use as a school;
(e)the Majlis is satisfied that the application or any document given in support of the application contains information that is false or misleading in a material particular, or there is a material omission from such application or document;
(f)the Majlis is of the view that the name under which the school is to be registered is undesirable;
(g)the Majlis is of the view that the school is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for a purpose that is prejudicial to the public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
(h)the Majlis is of the view that it is against the public interest or the interest of the students of the school to register the school.
(2)  To avoid doubt, section 87(8) of the Act applies to a refusal of the Majlis to grant an application under rule 6.
Conditions of registration
9.—(1)  The registration of a Muslim religious school is subject to the following conditions:
(a)the proprietor of the school must provide the Majlis with such information concerning the conduct or funding of the school as the Majlis may from time to time require, within the time specified by it;
(b)the proprietor of the school must inform the Majlis of any of the following events, within 14 days after the date of the event occurring:
(i)a change of proprietor of the school;
(ii)a change to the name or address of the school;
(iii)the cessation of operation of the school.
(2)  Paragraph (1) does not affect the power of the Majlis to impose other conditions under rule 7(3)(a).
Renewal of registration
10.—(1)  The proprietor of a registered Muslim religious school may, no later than 3 months before the expiry of its registration or such later date as the Majlis may permit in any particular case, apply to the Majlis to renew the registration of the school in such form and manner as the Majlis determines.
(2)  Rules 6(2), 7(1) and (3) and 9 apply with the necessary modifications to an application to renew the registration of a Muslim religious school, and the renewal of such registration, as those provisions apply to an application to register a Muslim religious school and its registration.
(3)  The Majlis may refuse to grant an application to renew the registration of a Muslim religious school if —
(a)any of the requirements for registration in rule 7(2)(a), (b) and (c) is no longer met;
(b)the proprietor of the school —
(i)is contravening or has contravened any provision of these Rules; or
(ii)is not a fit and proper person to conduct a Muslim religious school;
(c)any member of its teaching staff is not a recognised Islamic teacher or a recognised Quranic teacher;
(d)a condition of the registration of the school or the renewal of its registration (as the case may be) is being or has been contravened;
(e)the school premises are unsafe or unsuitable for use as a school;
(f)the Majlis is satisfied that the application or any document given in support of the application contains information that is false or misleading in a material particular, or there is a material omission from such application or document;
(g)where the name of the school has been changed to one that the Majlis considers undesirable, and after the Majlis has directed the proprietor to change that name within the time and in the manner specified by the Majlis, the proprietor fails to do so;
(h)the Majlis is of the view that the school has been, is or is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for a purpose that is prejudicial to the public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
(i)the Majlis is of the view that it is against the public interest or the interest of the students of the school to renew the registration of the school.
(4)  To avoid doubt, section 87(8) of the Act applies to a refusal of the Majlis to grant an application under paragraph (3).
Cancellation of registration, etc.
11.—(1)  The Majlis may take any of the following actions in relation to a registered Muslim religious school on any of the grounds mentioned in paragraph (2):
(a)cancel its registration;
(b)suspend its registration for not more than 6 months.
(2)  The grounds are —
(a)any of the requirements for registration in rule 7(2)(a), (b) or (c) is no longer met;
(b)the proprietor of the school —
(i)is contravening or has contravened any provision of these Rules; or
(ii)is not a fit and proper person to conduct a Muslim religious school;
(c)any member of its teaching staff is not a recognised Islamic teacher or a recognised Quranic teacher;
(d)a condition of the registration of the school or the renewal of its registration (as the case may be) is being or has been contravened;
(e)the school premises are unsafe or unsuitable for use as a school;
(f)the Majlis is satisfied that the application or any document given in support of the application for the school’s registration or the renewal of its registration (as the case may be) contains information that is false or misleading in a material particular, or there is a material omission from such application or document;
(g)where the name of the school has been changed to one that the Majlis considers undesirable, and after the Majlis has directed the proprietor to change that name within the time and in the manner specified by the Majlis, the proprietor fails to do so;
(h)the Majlis is of the view that the school has been, is or is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for a purpose that is prejudicial to the public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; and
(i)the Majlis is of the view that it is against the public interest or the interest of the students of the school for the school to remain registered.
(3)  The Majlis may, instead of taking any action under paragraph (1), take one or more of the following actions:
(a)shorten the period of registration of the Muslim religious school;
(b)censure its proprietor;
(c)impose conditions on its registration, whether in addition to the existing conditions of its registration or in substitution of any of those conditions.
(4)  The Majlis must, before taking any action under paragraph (1) or (3), serve on the proprietor of the school a notice in writing of its intention to do so.
(5)  The proprietor may, within 14 days after the date of receipt of the notice under paragraph (4), show cause to the Majlis why it should not take action under paragraph (1) or (3).
(6)  If, after the proprietor has shown cause or the time to do so has expired, the Majlis decides to take the action, the Majlis must give notice to the proprietor of its decision.
(7)  To avoid doubt, section 87(8) of the Act applies to a decision of the Majlis under paragraph (6).
(8)  The suspension or cancellation of the registration of a Muslim religious school, the reduction of the period of its registration, or a condition imposed under paragraph (3)(c), does not take effect until the expiration of 14 days after the date the Majlis served the notice under paragraph (6), and has effect despite any appeal which may be made to the Minister under section 87(8) of the Act.
(9)  Where the Minister allows an appeal under section 87(8) of the Act —
(a)if the appeal is against the suspension or cancellation of the registration of the school, its registration is restored as from the date the appeal is allowed;
(b)if the appeal is against the reduction of the period of registration of the school, the original period of its registration is restored as from that date; or
(c)if the appeal is against the imposition of conditions on the registration of the school, its registration is no longer subject to those conditions as from that date.
Register of Registered Muslim Religious Schools
12.—(1)  The Majlis must maintain a register called the Register of Registered Muslim Religious Schools.
(2)  The Register must contain the name, date of registration and such other particulars as the Majlis may determine of every registered Muslim religious school.
Publication of list of registered Muslim religious schools, etc.
13.—(1)  The Majlis may publish, in such manner as it may determine —
(a)a list of the names of all registered Muslim religious schools;
(b)the courses offered by those schools; and
(c)such other information of those schools as the Majlis may determine.
(2)  The Majlis may also publish, in such manner as it may determine, the fact that any action has been taken under rule 11(1) or (3) in relation to a Muslim religious school.
Teaching staff of registered Muslim religious schools
14.—(1)  The proprietor of a registered Muslim religious school must not deploy an individual to provide at the school any Islamic instruction that is not basic Islamic instruction, unless —
(a)the individual is a recognised Islamic teacher; and
(b)the proprietor has notified the Majlis, in such form and manner and at least 14 days before the date of the first deployment of that individual for this purpose, of the particulars of the individual that the Majlis specifies to the proprietor.
(2)  The proprietor of a registered Muslim religious school must not deploy an individual to provide basic Islamic instruction at the school unless —
(a)the individual is a recognised Islamic teacher or a recognised Quranic teacher; and
(b)the proprietor has notified the Majlis, in such form and manner and at least 14 days before the date of the first deployment of the individual for this purpose, of the particulars of the individual that the Majlis specifies to the proprietor.
(3)  The proprietor of a registered Muslim religious school must not deploy a recognised Islamic teacher or recognised Quranic teacher to provide Islamic instruction at the school in a particular subject or field if the proprietor knows or has reason to believe that such provision contravenes any condition mentioned in rule 17(4)(a) concerning the subjects or fields that the teacher may provide Islamic instruction in.
(4)  The Majlis may at any time by notice in writing direct the proprietor of a registered Muslim religious school not to deploy, or to stop deploying, any individual to provide Islamic instruction at the school starting from a date specified in the notice, and the proprietor must comply with the direction.
(5)  The Majlis may make the direction under paragraph (4) if the Majlis is satisfied that —
(a)any information given in an application under Part 3 or in a document in support of the application contains information in relation to that individual that is false or misleading in a material particular, or there is a material omission from such application or document;
(b)the individual is contravening or has contravened any condition of his or her recognition as a recognised Islamic teacher or recognised Quranic teacher; or
(c)it is against the public interest or the interests of the students for the individual to continue providing Islamic instruction.
(6)  A person who contravenes paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Majlis may direct remedial measures
15.—(1)  If it appears to the Majlis that any provision of these Rules or condition of registration has not been complied with in relation to any registered Muslim religious school, the Majlis may, by notice in writing addressed to its proprietor, direct the proprietor to take such measures and within such time as may be specified in the notice, at the proprietor’s cost, to enable that provision or condition to be complied with.
(2)  The proprietor must comply with the notice.
(3)  A person who contravenes paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.