The Education Ministry plans to add 10,000 more teachers for the Jawi, Quran, Arabic Language and Fardu Ain (J-Qaf) programme, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said. He said that currently, there were 14,000 J-Qaf teachers nationwide. To ensure quality J-Qaf teachers, only candidates with Sijil Menengah Agama (SMA) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) qualification would be considered for training in religious education programme at the institute of teacher education, he told reporters after opening the Kedah religious teachers general meeting here today. Jamil Khir said the federal government also planned to provide additional allocation for all government-aided schools to reinforce implementation of J-Qaf and to help the schools with payments of their utility bills. He said there were also plans upgrade existing surau and mosques to turn them into religious learning institution. — BERNAMA