Pakistani judges look to Turkey on religious education

[Pax Ottomana]

Pakistan is looking to the Turkish model of training imams as fears grow that the South Asian country’s current religious education system based on madrassas is geared toward breeding terrorists.

Thirteen senior judges from Pakistan concluded a visit Wednesday to Turkey, where they learned about imam-hatip religious vocational high schools and met with Turkey’s top cleric.

“Yes, we discussed the Turkish model in detail. The Turkish religious affairs director made certain suggestions regarding our education system,” Dr. Shahzad Iqbal Sham, the head of the Pakistani delegation, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

The group visited Turkey from May 15 to 25 as part of an in-service training program through the International Islamic University in Islamabad. The delegation met Monday with Professor Mehmet Görmez, the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate.

“It was a comprehensive talk. [Görmez] highlighted the system of training imams in Turkey. We raised questions and those questions were answered very effectively,” said Sham, who is from the International Islamic University.

Görmez briefed the group about Turkey’s imam-hatip schools, which train religious clerics, but the Pakistani academic declined to comment on the idea that Pakistan wants to apply the Turkish model, citing his position as a university academic.

“Our religious education system is going through a transitional period. With the passage of time we will be able to modify our own system in Pakistan. The Turkish system is very effective for the people of Turkey,” Sham said.

“It doesn’t mean that I deny [Pakistan’s interest in the Turkish model]. Our problems must be addressed by the people of Pakistan but we require the assistance of the brotherly country at the national and global levels,” he added, referring to Turkey.

During a trip to Islamabad in 2009, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, himself a graduate of an imam-hatip school, met with his Pakistani counterpart, Yousaf Raza Gilani. The Pakistani prime minister openly said his country was interested in Turkey’s imam-hatip model and expressed his intentions to switch to a government-supervised theological school system, like the one in Turkey, in order to replace the controversial madrassa system.

The Pakistani judges who visited Turkey this month spent time in Ankara, Istanbul and the Central Anatolian province of Konya as part of a judicial training program known as a “Shariah Orientation Course.”

Asked why the group chose Turkey, a country that is not governed by shariah law, Sham said: “Turkey has a lot of historical and cultural Islamic heritage. Moreover, there are certain changes in its political and legal system. That’s why we chose Turkey, to benefit from this brotherly country.”

Pakistani judges look to Turkey on religious education | TR Defence

 

[A1Kaid]

We should not have "religious education" but I do support "education about religion" especially religion as a historical subject.

 

[Zarvan]

We should not have "religious education" but I do support "education about religion" especially religion as a historical subject.

For a Muslim Islam is everything having knowledge of Islam is far more important than even taking breath or having food and Turkey Model will fire back and result in more Extremism

 

[A1Kaid]

You can have knowledge of Islam, but have knowledge of math, science, history, literature, language, health, etc as well. For example, it is not required to interject religion into a math course, history course, etc. As far as science courses go teach what their is evidence for, be broad in what research shows, show different points of views. Government should not be imposing "religious education" in public schools, then you will have Government's version of religion.

I have a US education, look at me I've turned out fine. I have knowledge and understanding of Islam and many other academic fields. Education here has not eroded my capability nor understanding of Islam. When a society allows freedom of information including religion that can be beneficial. I think some people have a fear if "religious education" is not imposed then that will wane religiosity in society, at best it will moderate it not eradicate it in a society like Pakistan. Individuals and or families have to decide their stance on religion.

Now being Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, Islam is important to the society, but education should not be "religious education" it needs to be balanced education providing different points of views.

Turkey Model will fire back and result in more Extremism.

If Pakistan starts at the primary school level a balanced education curriculum is taught that is beneficial and it's not going to necessarily lead to extremism. Many things can lead to "extremism" news, current affairs, politics, etc...

 

[Zarvan]

You can have knowledge of Islam, but have knowledge of math, science, history, literature, language, health, etc as well. For example, it is not required to interject religion into a math course, history course, etc. As far as science courses go teach what their is evidence for, be broad in what research shows, show different points of views. Government should not be imposing "religious education" in public schools, then you will have Government's version of religion.

I have a US education, look at me I've turned out fine. I have knowledge and understanding of Islam and many other academic fields. Education here has not eroded my capability nor understanding of Islam. When a society allows freedom of information including religion that can be beneficial. I think some people have a fear if "religious education" is not imposed then that will wane religiosity in society, at best it will moderate it not eradicate it in a society like Pakistan. Individuals and or families have to decide their stance on religion.

Now being Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, Islam is important to the society, but education should not be "religious education" it needs to be balanced education providing different points of views.



If Pakistan starts at the primary school level a balanced education curriculum is taught that is beneficial and it's not going to necessarily lead to extremism. Many things can lead to "extremism" news, current affairs, politics, etc...

In Pakistan Religious Education should be taught because for a Muslim learning about the orders of ISLAM if far more important than anything else in the world and we have to follow Islam Completely because its a whole way of life

 

[Evil Flare]

For a Muslim Islam is everything having knowledge of Islam is far more important than even taking breath or having food and Turkey Model will fire back and result in more Extremism

Main problem is that there so many different kind of Knowledge of Islam here in our country .. which contradicts each other & results into fighting ... so Religions should not come into Mainstream education or politics

 

[Leader]

You can have knowledge of Islam, but have knowledge of math, science, history, literature, language, health, etc as well. For example, it is not required to interject religion into a math course, history course, etc. As far as science courses go teach what their is evidence for, be broad in what research shows, show different points of views. Government should not be imposing "religious education" in public schools, then you will have Government's version of religion.

I have a US education, look at me I've turned out fine. I have knowledge and understanding of Islam and many other academic fields. Education here has not eroded my capability nor understanding of Islam. When a society allows freedom of information including religion that can be beneficial. I think some people have a fear if "religious education" is not imposed then that will wane religiosity in society, at best it will moderate it not eradicate it in a society like Pakistan. Individuals and or families have to decide their stance on religion.

Now being Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, Islam is important to the society, but education should not be "religious education" it needs to be balanced education providing different points of views.



If Pakistan starts at the primary school level a balanced education curriculum is taught that is beneficial and it's not going to necessarily lead to extremism. Many things can lead to "extremism" news, current affairs, politics, etc...

when did you last time visited Pakistan or did ever visit at all ?

 

[shuakataftab]

Books written on the subject Pakistan-Studies / History of Pakistan should be changed as soon as possible because they teach hatred for Hinduism
Secondly Ethics should be a compulsory subject
Pakistani Muslims usually do not try learn about Islam to make positive changes in their own life but instead they learn it to force others to believe on their views thinking that it makes them better Muslims

 

[shuakataftab]

You can have knowledge of Islam, but have knowledge of math, science, history, literature, language, health, etc as well. For example, it is not required to interject religion into a math course, history course, etc. As far as science courses go teach what their is evidence for, be broad in what research shows, show different points of views. Government should not be imposing "religious education" in public schools, then you will have Government's version of religion.

You should have a look on the science books that are used in schools and colleges
In the textbook of Intermediate Biology (Sindh board) the writers have inserted a verse from Surah Yasin into Darwins Theory

 

[Kambojaric]

Very good, have regularly attended a Turkish mosque, with the imam there coming from a imam hatip in Turkey. Definitely something positive. Pakistan needs this

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Imam Hatip program is a good one.....Mullahs in Turkey look like gentlemen, not scraggly old miserable stinks who never smile and tell you 24/7 about what is haram and what isnt.

to preach religion, I think State should have a role to offer licenses so that material and discussion could be audited and monitored. At least for the time being. Misguided religious zeal is not a good or healthy thing --- though this may sound unfair to the majority religious scholars and preachers who are simply pious, religious people.

desperate times call for new thinking

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

by the way, i love Konya.

what a wonderful and spiritual place. . .

 

[Dance]

If this true, then its great news. Pakistan's religious institutions need a big change urgently