Madarsa System of Education in Pakistan:Challenges and Issues

Madrasa system of education faces many challenges and issues allover the world. Having glorious past, Madrasas are now consideredas promoting terrorism and extremism. In Pakistan, where religiousinstitutions are found in large quantity, these institutions are maderesponsible for giving training to terrorists and fundamentalists. Thewestern media and countries consider these institutions as the jihadfactories. Whatever the challenges and issues, these institutions facetoday, were cultivated in 1980s decay during Afghan-Soviet war.Many Madrasas were pushed into the war due to external pressure.The element of violence entered into some of the Madrasas in Pakistanfollowing jihadi ideology during that era. The Madrasas were givenlot of funds by USA for the war training and sending students toAfghanistan to take part in the war. Soon after the war was over, USAstopped providing funds to these institutions. As a result theseinstitutions started facing issues and challenges. They tried to consumeraw material in the shape of war trained students in the global market.Many international agencies started hiring these institutions for theirown benefit. Because of these few extremist organizations, the wholeMadrasa system of education is blamed. Besides, Madrasa system ofeducation does not adapt change. The curriculum, syllabus andteaching techniques are very old and inflexible. The formulation andupdate of aims, goal, objectives, vision and mission has not been givendue importance in this system. The connections of Madrasas withAfghan Talban and ideological differences among them have givenrise to financial crisis. There is a communication gap and lack of trustbetween Government representatives and Madrasa organizers.Though government has made the registration mandatory, yet a vastmajority of the Madrasas is still unregistered.