Hazel: Trinidad can learn a lot from Eid

MINISTER of Education, Hazel Manning last Friday put aside her Christian teachings and turned her thoughts to the Muslim celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr. This event featured a 90-minute period of prayer, Quranic Recitation and Quesedas at the Ministry’s head office in St Clair. The Minister gave the feature address in which she dealt with all aspects of Eid. She described Eid as a unique festival which research had shown, had no connection with any historical event.

“This festival is not related in any way to worldly affairs as in Divali when candles and deyas are lit to welcome the goddess, Lakshmi — the goddess of wealth, the time of joy and happiness and the triumph of good over evil,” explained Senator ManningAccording to the Minister, Eid-ul-Fitr is the day when Muslims thank Allah for giving them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe, fast and obey his commandments, during the Holy Month of Ramadan. “The noble gesture of self-reflection of assessing oneself and making adjustments is now an important aspect of the education system. “As we reform and modernise the teaching profession, some of these ideas of self-reflection and assessment will be infused in our teacher development. Teachers will also receive support to help students engage in self-reflection and self-assessment from our recently expanded student support services division,” said Senator Manning.

Claiming that as a nation, Trinidad could learn a lot from Eid, the Minister said, “We can all learn to strengthen the ties of  brotherly love; we can all learn the power of quiet, self-reflection and confidence; we can all learn to work together in the interest of national unity, based on mutual respect and most importantly, we can all learn tolerance and universal understanding,” said the Minister. Among those who attended the event was former government minister and ambassador, Haji Kamaluddin Mohammed. He gave an address in which he commended the team at the Ministry of Education on the activities.