الإيضاح (Dec 2009)
Integration of Madrassah (Islamic Seminary) Education with Formal Education System in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract
Extremism happens to be the heart of global security concern after 9/11. Western countries consider the religious intolerance as a source of extremism. Pakistani Madaris (seminaries) are thought as extremists producing factories. The question that why and how religious students tended towards extremism. Hujra (pukhtoon community centre) which is traditionally the main supporter of Jumaat (Mosque); now seem to be overpowered by the religious institutions after getting trained motivated organized Taliban and financial freedom after Afghan war. In this paper the discussion will revolve around the legal status given to Taliban and their education status by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In this study both primary and secondary sources are used. The study concluded that no legal status exist for the millions of Taliban graduates in the state; and the aspired streamlining efforts of Madrassah (seminary) with formal education are non productive and ineffective. Even the supreme court of Pakistan is unanswered about these extralegal sons of republic. Sword hanged over the heads of the legislators elected based on their Sanad (Religious Degree) in 2002 election and they are consequently prone to any blackmailing by the formal system educated ruling elite class for their disqualification because of non holding Graduate degree. Government efforts always revolve around the concept that madaris graduates can be made productive through changing their curricula which is all time resisted by Madaris; It is concluded that there is another dimension mostly ignored is to integrate madaris education system with formal education system vertically rather than horizontal or in lateral arrangements.
