A Waste of National Resource

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Everyone seems to have an opinion about madrassahs. Has anyone in Pakistan actually carried out a detailed study on Madrassahs. What is taught where? Who funds them? What they are teaching? etc.

Currently, the madrassah debate seems to be divided along religious lines. Those who are pushing religion, love them. And those who are anti-religion, hate them. I don`t think too many people comment on them from an educational point of view.

The only person on this site, who was able to provide a curriculum of madrassahs was Naqshbandi.

#5 by Mantolives on January 28, 2004 9:26am PT

Chill off Manto! this could be one of the best moments of your life!!
forget this Chowk full of Islamic loonies and supporters of Tora bora thugs. Come back to chowk after an year or so- till then try to appreciate the feminine side of your life. This would help you develop a true revulsion for the Jehadi stuff in Pakistani society.

Good article. The reference to madrasas reminded me of something. Though I`ve come across many madrassa students, I`ve only really talked to one of em on a public wagon ride to Gujranwala. He was studying for his physics exam. His level of knowledge seemed quite impressive as was his desire to learn.

I think most Pakistanis outrightly dismiss madrassa education- and for many right reasons. Yet, these schools do not only brainwash you ideologically. Meeting the kid on the wagon, it seems like they are much more successful in teaching non-religious studies than government schools or even some private schools are.

The choice I always see Pakistanis stuck with are that between pride and ego and nationalism versus economics. Pride and ego and nationalism in impoverished societies are a hallmark of fascism. It causes tremendous inequalities at all levels. If the rich and privileged 5% can get access to english language schools, why the fuk should the government force the 95% to study Urdu in public schools? If the rich and privileged feel their kids are better off learning english, why assume the poor 95% do not feel this way?

mubarik mantolives on your shadi..we had no idea :)...one reason for my pessimism about Pakistan is everyone I know who has visited Pakistan since 2001 (when I was last there) sez one thing..the increase in poverty is striking and so is the major changes that are going on..

In case anyone missed it.

90: (from ali Minai board)
Your posts arent ``iron free``, they are irony free...

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No it IS /iron-free ; meaning, for those who are already sanguine and have good-humours (again no error here either).

My writings are not meant for those who went to english-schools.Your humour-defficiency is understandable.

Progressives are known to be dour and drab..the can`t-haves.

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Mantolives

``Or maybe my wife gave me a new lens to view Pakistan with. `

Who is the unlucky girl. Boy she must be desperate. Anyway, my best wishes to both of you. If we will ever meet, I will tell her that you were desperate as well.

Congrats

#5 by Mantolives on January 28, 2004 9:26am PT
Or maybe my wife gave me a new lens to view Pakistan with

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Mubarak-salaamat, mubarak-salaamat.

Humm huay, tumm huay, kay meer huay
uss kee zulfoN kay subb aseer huay.


``Mukalamaat-e `falatooN naa likhh sakeey lekin
Issi kay zoar sey tooTaa, tlsm-e aflaatooN.``

aur aap kee ahliyaa tO mashallah mukaalmaat bhee likhtee haiN.



Oye buchh kay mundia moaRR toN.

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The kind of pessimism that Pakistanis generally show about their own country some times makes me wonder if I live in the same country as them. I am sorry... I just don`t just seem to view things the same... maybe I live in a very positive environment... maybe my city, my village and my environs are located somewhere totally separate from the rest of Pakistan...

I know ... maybe I am burger family... maybe I am elitist... though I am considerably less so than other soothsayers of this site... but the Pakistan I live in is a very positive, and egalitarian place.

Or maybe my wife gave me a new lens to view Pakistan with.

F R Khan

I do not think any one is listening - Musharaf, Government, Parliament.

Unless the money spent on education is increased to at least 3-4 % of GDP, there is no hope. Presently, I think it is 1 & 1/2 %.

If you pay your teacher less than the Cook, you will get poor Cooks teaching in the schools.

There is also no need to set up any more committees. There are Reports Galore already available on the remedies of our education system. What was always needed was the commitment to dish out the MONEY.

To us, Kashmir, Ummah, Bomb, tanks, aircraft etc were always more important.

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Good article as always, just one point...South Asian state have lost their raison d`etre a long time ago, most if not all have failed in their obligations to the people. The Madrassah system is more closely linked to the 1980`s, and the huge sums of money that were floating around...