Madrassa Education In Pakistan Deepens Inequality, Nurtures Extremism: Report | World News

Pakistan’s madrassa education embodies a disturbing paradox: While it provides shelter and religious education to the poor, it also fuels radicalism, deepens inequality and enables abuse, a report published Thursday said.

He added that although madrasa education remains a domestic policy issue, the international community is deeply concerned about Pakistan’s ability to fulfill its obligations in the education sector and eliminate institutions that provide grounds for extremism.

“In a complex and divided country like Pakistan, the divide between two education systems, mainstream secular institutions and religious schools known as madrassas, has become a highly contentious issue. This divide transcends curriculum and pedagogy; it reflects broader social, economic and political fault lines shaping the country’s future.”

According to the report, madrassas are often accused of promoting extremist ideologies that are contrary to Pakistan’s national interests and the principles of global peace and tolerance.

“The 2005 siege of the Red Mosque in Islamabad brought these concerns into sharp focus. A madrassa affiliated with the mosque declared war on the state, took hostages and demanded the implementation of sharia law. The military intervention killed more than 100 people and marked a turning point in Pakistan’s relationship with religious schools. Critics began to refer to the madrassas as ‘jihad factories’ and even former President Pervez Musharraf faced death threats for his role in the crackdown.” faced.”

The report emphasized that Pakistani Defense Minister Khwaja Asif’s recent statement that “When it comes to Madrasa or Madrasa students, there is no doubt that they are our second line of defense, there is no doubt that they are young people studying there. They will be used 100 percent as needed when the time comes” was seen as an admission of Pakistan’s complicity in promoting radicalism.

It was stated that such rhetoric reinforces the perception that madrassas function not only as centers of educational institutions but also as “ideological pipelines to extremism”.

The report emphasized that madrassas not only contribute to radicalization but also perpetuate socioeconomic inequality. Their curriculum is heavily focused on religious education; Mundane subjects such as mathematics, science or technology are given minimal importance.

“Disturbingly, madrassas have come under scrutiny for widespread abuse, particularly sexual violence. In recent years, numerous reports have emerged detailing numerous cases of abuse, often involving vulnerable children from financially strapped families. Placed in madrassas by parents who see them as safe havens, these children are sometimes subjected to horrific abuse by those in positions of authority. Many madrassas have been accused of protecting abusers, and public silence has allowed the problem to continue.” noted.