Analysts commented on the construction of another hafiz school in Chechnya.

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In Chechnya, the construction of a hafiz school for 280 female students has begun. Currently, there are already 11 such schools and 457 madrasas operating in the republic. These schools are not an alternative to regular educational institutions; they are optional classes for all ages.

On August 22, the construction of a hafiz school for 280 female students began in Grozny, which will be named after the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, Fatimah al-Zahra, reports "Chechnya Today".

The expenses for the construction are covered by the regional public fund named after Akhmat Kadyrov. At the ceremony dedicated to the start of the school construction, the Mufti of Chechnya, Salah-Haji Mezhiyev, stated that the hafiz schools of Chechnya are known far beyond the region, and their students regularly take prize places in international Quran recitation competitions.

Earlier, in June, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, reported that there are 11 hafiz schools in the republic, where 1,040 students are studying, and 457 Islamic madrasas, where more than 45,000 people are educated, writes "Chechnya Today".

A Russian Islamic scholar speaking on condition of anonymity stated that there are currently no Islamic educational institutions in Russia offering a full cycle of secondary education. "Therefore, madrasas and hafiz schools are not competitors to secular general secondary education and cannot be a parallel structure. They are more like optional classes, and for all ages. People of any age and educational background can learn the basics of Islam in madrasas at mosques. The same goes for education in hafiz schools. However, since their main task is for students to memorize the text of the Quran from the first to the last sign with all the reading rules, this is certainly possible for people with good memory. It is more difficult for retirees to do this, so younger people tend to go there, but they are not necessarily school students," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot" on August 28.

According to the Islamic scholar, Dagestan leads Russia in the number of madrasas. "I can't name the exact numbers, but Dagestan is traditionally strong in this and maintains the standard," he said.

At the same time, there are universities in Russia offering Islamic theological education, with Tatarstan leading in this area. "Their graduates not only leave the educational institution with a theologian's diploma but also with a secular specialty as a teacher or Arabic language translator. In terms of the quality of such universities, Tatarstan is in first place, which is a symbolic center of Russian Islam. Most of the universities are established in Tatarstan - the Russian Islamic University, the Bulgarian Academy," the Islamic scholar explained.

Member of the Adam Smith Council, political scientist Sergiy Boyko 1 believes that the creation of a hafiz school is unlikely to be part of Kadyrov's election campaign and will not bring any additional loyalty from the electorate. "There is no significant difference at the moment. Since students are influenced equally from an administrative point of view," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

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