Madrassa Militancy and Reforms

Students at the Darul Uloom Rahmaniya Madrassa in Dera Ghazi Khan.

The radicalization of a section of the madrassa system is a profoundly destabilizing phenomenon with its roots in the Afghan jihad. Millennia old system of education designed to educate the intellectual elite in Muslim societies, the madrassa system in Pakistan has changed drastically in substance and context in the past two decades. Madrassas in Pakistan are estimated to have more than doubled since 1988 due to host of complex internal and external factors. They have stepped into take up the vacuum left by the Pakistan’s failed educational system. Pakistan spends a mere 1.8 percent of GNP on education.

The problem of madrassa education has two distinct aspects. First, the quality of madrassa education in equipping students with basic tools to earn a living, and the second is the relationship between certain madrassas and radical militant groups that recruit them to fight internationally, or in sectarian struggles. These are two distinct problems with different solutions. Nothing in the institution of madrassa is inherently prone to militancy. While the curriculum is overwhelmingly outdated and stereotyped, madrassas are often the only schooling option for poorer Pakistanis. It is pertinent to note that the madrassa system today provides a vital social service, not only teaching basic reading and writing, but providing food, shelter and other basic necessities and services. It is estimated that mosques affiliated with madrassas collect over 1.2 billion U.S dollars in charitable donations from Pakistanis residents.

The vast majority of madrassas is dedicated to religious education and is not practically involved on politics. While these institutions are stumbling blocks to progress and need to be reformed, they are not a vital security threat for anybody. Though it is hard to get concrete data, most estimates indicate that only about 10-15 percent of Pakistan’s madrassas are affiliated with radical militant groups. These extremist setups propagate a culture of hatred and violence, both domestically and internationally. To distinguish this minority with vast majority of peaceful maddaris is one of the most difficult problems for the authorities. The Maddaris Ordinance 2002, which attempts to regulate madrassas by getting them to register with the education board, is particularly ineffective when it comes to dealing with extremist maddaris as it relies overwhelmingly on the voluntary submission of data. Madrassa militancy is a complex subject as different factors promote militancy depending on socio-economic, ethnic and sectarian patterns and local power structures.

Another reason for failure behind madrassa reforms is the perception that Islam is being attacked by the authorities on the dictates of western (read USA) powers. It is an issue that unites religious parties and extremist groups, who in turn can manipulate the religious rhetoric to win popular support. To deal with the issue effectively, the civilian government needs to refine its approach and try to build genuine consensus for reform. But at this point, it remains unclear if the government even has the organizational capacity and will to regulate madrassas effectively, given its poor track record with public education.