The Contributions and Perils of Madrassa Education System in Pakistan—A Peace Education Perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Peace education is an emerging discipline around the world. The focus of this discipline is to educate for peaceful co-existence in a diverse global community. Peace education is an educational response to the problems violence. It is an approach to enhance tolerance and strengthen conflict resolution skills. As per the directives of the UN, especially the decade from 2001 to 2010, which was declared as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and non-violence, different nation-states are expected to foster peace related content, skills, and attitudes among the learners. Pakistan, a country at the front line in the war against terrorism on the one hand, needs to address this declaration in academic circles as well. Besides the state-run institutions, Madrassa education system occupies an important place in the education system of Pakistan. The importance of Madrassas come from the fact that they play a significant role in the overall literacy rate in the country and provides free of cost education and in many cases boarding, lodging and food to students coming from the poorest sections of the society. However, there is also a significant level of concern regarding the role of these Madrassas. This concern mainly comes from the alleged involvement of many of these Madrassas in spreading sectarianism and narrow-mindedness in the society. Thus, it is argued, instead of unifying the society, these institutions contribute to the disintegration of Pakistani society where the learners will have to follow a particular sectarian group and will have to underrate the other schools of thoughts. The findings revealed that while Madrassas enhance literacy, sectarian biases persist due to outdated curricula coupled with a one-sided approach in the interpretation of the Holy Text. This Article highlights the positive aspects as well as the perils of Madrassa education system in Pakistan and suggests some corrective measures such as to include Peace Education as a subject in these institutions with ample teacher training initiatives.

      Keywords: peace education, terrorism, madrassa reforms, peaceful co-existence, Security