The book at hand is the result of a more than two-year-long joint enterprise across borders, regions, and continents, aimed at identifying the development and status of the religious seminaries, also known as madrasas, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the West, these madrasas are often perceived as a massive production pipeline for international terrorism. This book attempts to look beyond – or beneath – this perception by examining the role of madrasas through three main research questions, each provided as a main question to each one of the three independent think tanks and research centers. The overall objective of this framework is to take a first step toward creating a correct image of the madrasas and the trajectory their role in society has taken.
The three research questions directing the study are: 1) What motivates parents to send their children to madrasas instead of public schools in Pakistan? 2) How are the madrasas in Pakistan funded, and which influence do donors have over them? and 3) Which trends can be identified in different groups’ influences on religious education in Afghanistan? These questions have served as the foundation for the extensive data-collection conducted in the respective countries.
The result of the study in terms of this book reflects the collaboration between the Royal Danish Defence College, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), both from Pakistan, and the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS) from Afghanistan.
In this summary, the findings from the field research provide a brief overview of the analytical results as seen through the editorial lens in Copenhagen. One key discovery was that, besides the anticipated general devotion to religion, households’ economic concerns appeared to be a main motivation for Pakistani parents in sending their children to madrasas instead of public schools. Findings also show an almost remarkable equality in choice among a majority of the parents interviewed regarding the preferences for public school or madrasas. This implies that families with two children or more often have children in both types of school. Another result, not initially anticipated, related to the financial pipelines of the madrasas in Pakistan, which – contrary to popular belief – are not heavily funded from abroad but mainly funded by donations from local communities in Pakistan. The latter can arguably be viewed as local recognition of a failed public school system in parallel with a continuously self-sustaining religious educational sphere that increases in strength due to the perception (recognition) of a failed public school system. The results in relation to Afghanistan show that various religious and non-governmental militant groups in the country attempt to exert their interpretation of Islam through their support to madrasas, which again serves the purpose of establishing a powerbase in the civilian populace. As the case is in Pakistan, madrasas in Afghanistan cannot be viewed merely as hotbeds for terrorism but also as an alternative (or rather the only option) for securing education for children in many areas. Likewise, there is a gap between the perceptions of the Afghan government and madrasa officials and the local communities in regards to whether madrasas are linked to militancy.
In the last part, a set of recommendations for policy development in Afghanistan and Pakistan is offered in view of promoting increased knowledge as well as debate on how reform of the madrasa education systems and investment in public education can mitigate some of the negative consequences of madrasas. A condensed excerpt of the recommendations concludes this summary:
Prioritize investment in public education – The public education systems in both countries need a significant overhaul. Government buy-in is required for improvement of critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship in institutions of learning. The problem of corruption and nepotism in Afghanistan’s education sector needs to be addressed.
Build trust with madrasas through financial and technical support – To achieve oversight and monitoring of madrasas, the trust deficit between the Afghan and Pakistani governments and the madrasas has to be reduced. It is vital that the government espouse accommodative policies towards madrasas by looking at the opportunity to provide financial support in order to achieve the right to stipulate regulations for madrasas. Furthermore, employment opportunities for the madrasa graduates in government and private sectors could also prove effective in terms trust building and influence on development.
Ensure madrasa registration – All seminaries should be geo-tagged and registered – the government should streamline and facilitate the madrasa registration process by announcing registration requirements as well as nominating a single body with whom madrasas should be registered.
Encourage and facilitate transparency and accountability in madrasa financing – Madrasas should be encouraged to and facilitated in opening bank accounts and conducting annual audits of their accounts in order to develop a transparent monitoring system.
Initiate teaching as well as curriculum reform – All madrasa curricula should be government approved and must include scientific subjects.
Ensure effective communication with madrasas – To avoid confusion and ensure effective communication, a single body in each country should be nominated to deal with madrasas. A board of religious scholars could be formed with a well-defined mandate to allocate budgets for madrasas at provincial levels.
Streamline donation flows to madrasas – Encourage the local communities to submit their donations and Zakat to the governments for better utilization of resources. However, the government will then have to address flaws in the existing system and ensure that Zakat is indeed allocated to the most deserving institutions and areas with limited access to public education.
Provide security to madrasas – In conflict zones, as well as in the areas where sectarian tensions are high, madrasas are bound to adopt additional security measures, thus placing extra pressure on their finances. Security should be provided to the madrasas if they meet the requirements of the reforms above.
About the authors
Mr. David Vestenskov is a consultant at the Royal Danish Defence College and project coordinator on the Danish Peace and Stabilisation Programme for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He holds an MA in History and Rhetoric from the University of Copenhagen. His analytical work and research have primarily focused on security developments in Central Asia and the Middle East, a subject about which he also has published several articles and books. His current work comprises research, international networking, and project implementation in the areas of international security issues, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, as well as regional peace building.
Mr. Zeeshan Salahuddin is a Senior Research Fellow and the Director Communications and Strategy for CRSS. Zeeshan’s research focuses on security studies, particularly religious and political extremism in Pakistan, and how this crisscrosses with the education sector. Aside from driving The Center’s research portfolio, Zeeshan is also responsible for operations, planning, and execution of the CRSS project portfolio. He occasionally writes for The Daily Times, The Express Tribune, the World Policy Journal Blog, and Foreign Policy.
Mr. Gul Dad is a defense/security analyst and one of the pioneers of Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) and heads its Research Division. He holds a master degree in political science from University of Peshawar, an MBA from Virtual University of Pakistan and an M. Phil degree in Government & Public Policy from National Defence University, Islamabad. He combines over 18 years of teaching, educational planning and management, and research experience in public/ private sectors. Peace & conflict, security, public policy and counter-terrorism are his special areas of interests with focus on Pakistan, South and Central Asia.
Mr. Halimullah Kousary is currently serving as director of research with the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS) based in Kabul Afghanistan. His research practice covers security and terrorism issues along the Durand Line and the broader region. Mr. Kousary has written extensively on local and transnational dimensions of terrorism, crime-terror nexus, regional cooperation
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