Many Islamic schools in Malaysia offer diverse models, attracting parents from various socioeconomic backgrounds who feel that mainstream education falls short in fully nurturing their children’s knowledge, morals, spirituality, and Islamic practices. Despite the higher costs, parents trust the Islamic education system to develop well-rounded individuals with strong religious values.

However, key issues in Islamic education include flexibility in curriculum and assessment, along with a lack of professionalism among teachers. Additionally, there is no unified body to assess, certify, and improve the quality and standards of Islamic education at the school level.

In 2020, the late Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Mohd Kamal Hassan, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Education Coordination (Lembaga Penasihat Penyelarasan Pelajaran/LEPAI), and Dr. Khodori Ahmad, President of the Federation of Islamic Education Associations of Malaysia (GaPIM) and former Deputy Director of the Malaysian Examinations Board, proposed establishing the Council of Assessment for Islamic Education (Majlis Pentaksiran Pendidikan Islam Malaysia/MPPI) under IIUM. IIUM was chosen for its distinguished reputation as a leader in advancing Islamic education quality.

The Council of Assessment for Islamic Education was then established by IIUM to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing the quality and well-being of students, teachers, and educators in Islamic education. This initiative resulted from a collaborative effort between IIUM, GaPIM, and Musleh Integrated Education Berhad(MIEB) or formerly known as IKRAM-Musleh Sdn. Bhd.