Pakistan's religious seminaries, or madrasahs, are frequently blamed for nurturing violent extremism. While most do not have firm links to militant groups, experts believe the schools' narrow focus could make their students vulnerable to radicalisation.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's religious seminaries, or madrasahs, are frequently blamed for nurturing violent extremism.
While most do not have firm links to militant groups, experts believe the schools' narrow focus could make their students vulnerable to radicalisation.
Most of such seminaries are accused of breeding terrorists.
Some have even publicly prided themselves on producing graduates who have led various militant factions in the region.
But a large number of these institutes have no proven links with militant outfits.
Many simply focus on religious education, hoping to churn out religious scholars.
Khurshid Nadeem, a religious scholar, said: "Basic education should have been the same for everyone in Pakistan. And then, just like some people want to become doctors or engineers, people could also have chosen to become religious scholars."
But some argue that madrasahs which only focus on religion breed a narrow-mindedness that could in turn be a source of radicalisation.
Students know very little about the workings of the world. Many simply absorb the world views of their teachers.
Some students are also allegedly treated brutally by their teachers.
Civil society organisations are working with religious seminaries to help improve conditions.
However, their efforts are sometimes undermined by the very institutions they are trying to help.
Sameena Imtiaz, executive director of PEAD Foundation, said: "Certain madrasahs, under reforms in the past, introduced modern education. For example, they started teaching mathematics, English or science.
“What I personally witnessed in these madrasahs was that these books were provided… but they were kept under lock and key. So, no child had access to these books."
The majority of madrasahs in Pakistan do not fall under government control.
But the government is trying to change that by bringing all of them under the national education system, in a bid to combat religious extremism.
The hope is that with a broader scope of subjects taught, students will have a broader mindset, and hence be less susceptible to radicalisation.
Pakistan religious school students vulnerable to radicalisation - Channel NewsAsia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's religious seminaries, or madrasahs, are frequently blamed for nurturing violent extremism.
While most do not have firm links to militant groups, experts believe the schools' narrow focus could make their students vulnerable to radicalisation.
Most of such seminaries are accused of breeding terrorists.
Some have even publicly prided themselves on producing graduates who have led various militant factions in the region.
But a large number of these institutes have no proven links with militant outfits.
Many simply focus on religious education, hoping to churn out religious scholars.
Khurshid Nadeem, a religious scholar, said: "Basic education should have been the same for everyone in Pakistan. And then, just like some people want to become doctors or engineers, people could also have chosen to become religious scholars."
But some argue that madrasahs which only focus on religion breed a narrow-mindedness that could in turn be a source of radicalisation.
Students know very little about the workings of the world. Many simply absorb the world views of their teachers.
Some students are also allegedly treated brutally by their teachers.
Civil society organisations are working with religious seminaries to help improve conditions.
However, their efforts are sometimes undermined by the very institutions they are trying to help.
Sameena Imtiaz, executive director of PEAD Foundation, said: "Certain madrasahs, under reforms in the past, introduced modern education. For example, they started teaching mathematics, English or science.
“What I personally witnessed in these madrasahs was that these books were provided… but they were kept under lock and key. So, no child had access to these books."
The majority of madrasahs in Pakistan do not fall under government control.
But the government is trying to change that by bringing all of them under the national education system, in a bid to combat religious extremism.
The hope is that with a broader scope of subjects taught, students will have a broader mindset, and hence be less susceptible to radicalisation.
Pakistan religious school students vulnerable to radicalisation - Channel NewsAsia
