Once upon a time madrasas were equivalent to Sunday School, now they are institutions of learning in Pakistan that are much more advanced then public Pakistani schools. Families that can afford to, send their children to madrasas because the Ministry of Education in Pakistan is so corrupt. In class we watched a documentary about the mis-education of Pakistan. In the documentary we saw startling statistics and footage of what literacy looked like. Deobandi scholar Maulana Zahid ul-Rashidi offers his insight on Pakistani madrasas. Read the article and reflect on what you’ve read.http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112005/madrassas.htm
FRONTLINE offers an analysis into madrasas and the Saudi influence throughout Central Asia. We know that madrasas are bias Islamic organizations and effectively educating Pakistan’s youth, but how are they affecting other regions of the Middle East? What message are they sending?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saudi/analyses/madrassas.html
The madrasas are spreading Wahabism into other regions. They are also spreading hate for the United States. It is kind of funny how madrasas were at first agianst communism and now because of our neglect they are against us. The Cold War was fought through other countries. The question is do we really want to get rid of the madrasas and if we do what can we replace them with? :)
ReplyDeleteThe problem with madrasas is that they really are the only good option for many Pakistanis who want to receive a good education. It is a catch-22 because if the madrasas were removed then public education would be the only option. Even though the madrasas spread Wahabbism and radical Islam, the question is, if we decided that their message was too much of a threat, and we got rid of them, where does that leave Pakistan as a country? Would Pakistan's education system be just one more thing that we would have to fix, or is it better left alone?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bri above. It's unfortunate that Madrasas is really the only good place to get an education. It's good that they have that, but at the same time, you wish they had more than only one good option.
ReplyDeleteit's an interesting question whether or not we should get rid of the madrasas, it's a complicated situation that is extremely two sided. Though it could positively impact the US if they were to be banished, the Pakistani school system would suffer immensely... and it's a tough call between the lesser of the two evils
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with all three of the Bri's above this post about how it is a sticky situation to be a part of. Other than the fact their educational systems would be wiped out, think of the other negatives to this problem. Madrasas are RELIGIOUS schools and religion is the one thing that has been making or breaking our relations with the Islamic people. Taking away their schools might be taken as disregarding their religion and making the people not want to help. On the other hand, how can we sit back and allow childrens minds to be corrupted? As Admiral Ackbar would say, "IT'S A TRAP!!!"
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the madrasas benefit the the Pakistani students by allowing them to have access to a better education than the public school systems can provide however it also seems like they have a more negative impact as it concerns the US. To decide if the madrasas should be kept the effects on both the Pakistani people and the US should be considered.
ReplyDeleteA bias education can sometimes be more beneficial than no education at all. Hopefully at some point in the children's lives they will realize that they have (somewhat) control over their own life.
ReplyDeleteMadrasas seem to be pretty radical places of learning, however, these children seem to receive good educations and have respect for themselves and the madrasa and children who attend. Education in Pakistan is a very valuable thing to many so, although the madrasas do support a bit of radicalism in some ways, it is worth it to gain knowledge that will help these members make better decisions down the road.
ReplyDeletewe should just leave the whole damn place, why does it even matter? they only learn about the US in a negative context because we give them the opportunity... if we were to just pack up and leave, they wouldn't be able to muster up enough support to attack us...
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Madrasas are definitely corrupt and breeding discontent. Although not all of the children taught there will go on to believe all they learn, those who do believe will spread it to more children who will spread it to more. If someone takes them in when no one else will, feeds them, educates them, and gives them a place to live, then they will definitely be agreeing with what is said. Maybe the U.S. should be more concerned with setting up their own schools than trying to find WMD
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