He said the Al Mashoor International Islamic School, would aim to be a model for world-class Islamic education in the northern region.

The school’s establishment follows a memorandum of understanding signed by the state Islamic religious council, Penang Islamic Foundation, and Al-Hamra Integrated School, a private school in Kota Damansara, Selangor, initiated by a group of parents.

Mohamad, who is president of the religious council, said the school will implement an integrated holistic education system and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education syllabus recognised by Cambridge.

“Targeting over 600 students, it is expected to be a landmark for international-standard Islamic education in Penang,” he said at an iftar event here today.

The school is located at the site of the former Al Mashoor girls’ secondary school in Pulau Tikus. Upgrading work began in July last year, with completion expected by June.

The school is scheduled to begin operations in September.