Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah


Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah is a full-time, private Islamic institution of learning in Singapore, one of the six such madrasahs in Singapore. Madrasah Aljunied is one of the oldest surviving madrasahs in Singapore. Through its years, it has gained eminence for its high standard of Arabic language and Islamic scholarship in the region. Madrasah Aljunied boasts an illustrious line of alumni of prominent Islamic religious leaders in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

History

Madrasah Aljunied is located next to the historical Jalan Kubor Cemetery.
Madrasah Aljunied is the second oldest Islamic school in Singapore after Madrasah Alsagoff. It was founded in 1927 by a philanthropist, Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied. The school's original two-storey building stood on a 4.4 hectare plot of land. The new building, however, sits on a mere 0.52 hectare of land.
Madrasah Aljunied's founder, Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied, observed that Abu Bakar bin Taha was the most eligible candidate for the position of Headmaster. Abu Bakar agreed but on two conditions: that the Arabic language be used as the medium of instruction; and that its educational system and pedagogy must be modern.
Abu Bakar's conditions were well-received, and he ran the Madrasah with tight discipline as Headmaster from 1927 to 1955.
Through the years, Madrasah Aljunied’s reputation as a premier Islamic educational institution in South East Asia was solidified. An apocryphal account states that Abu Bakar even allowed a section of his house at Java Road to be used as free accommodation for his students.

Curriculum

The curricula is geared towards Islamic subjects, while roughly a third is allocated for secular subjects.
Secular subjects are largely taught as part of the local curriculum and gain MOE-recognised qualifications. Students are either in the four-year "Express" stream and take the "O" Levels at Secondary 4 or in the five-year "Normal" stream and take the "O" Levels as well.

Notable alumni