US-Pakistan Relations: The Way Forward - Arz-e-Pak

Center (WTC), the assassination of two CIA officials in Virginia, and thebombing of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were captured and deportedto America. 19In addition to its ongoing campaign against terrorism, Pakistan isin the process of improving its educational system and increasing the nation’sliteracy rate. Almost half of the Pakistani population is currently illiterate.Young illiterate boys from poor families, who either cannot affordschooling or do not have access to a school, are recruited into small Masjid(mosque) schools or madrassas. Unfortunately, the madrassa system is generallyperceived in a negative light and considered a breeding ground for terrorism.This perception is not correct. Indeed, madrassas form one of thelargest non-government organizations in the world. These religious schoolsprovide succor to the poor and the needy. Madrassas provide food, shelter,and education to children whose parents cannot afford these basics. Educationin such schools is generally limited to the tenets of religion. The Pakistanigovernment neither funds nor exercises control over the curriculum ofthese schools and does not monitor the quality of the religious teachers—Imams. These schools are run by local communities and the Imams are hiredlocally. More than 95 percent of madrassas are politically moderate providinga strong moral foundation for their students. 20Unfortunately, somemadrassas are controlled by hard-line and militant organizations, includinga few with foreign sponsors. These schools expound extremist views and indoctrinatetheir students against the greater society. Although the governmenthas initiated a strict crackdown against extremist madrassas, it hasalso developed a thoughtful and comprehensive strategy to bring these institutionsinto the mainstream. Steps initiated by the government include monitoringthe recruitment of teachers, provisions for training workshops,government funding, control over outside sources of funding, audits of organizationalaccounts, and regular monitoring and evaluation by the Departmentof Education. The government has also introduced standardizedsubjects in 8,000 Madaris in an effort to bridge the gap between madrassasand the formal education system. The government’s involvement is designedto strengthen the lines of communication between the madrassas andthe government, educate over 1.5 million students, and help eradicate extremismthroughout the country. 21Education reform has been a major priority of the Pakistan governmentfor the last five years. These reforms included measures such as the separationof the general, higher, and special education ministries; provisions forfree education through high school; and unprecedented increases in funding,especially in the sciences and technology. Curriculums are being revised inan effort to rid them of extremist ideologies and make them compatible withWinter 2006-07 93