The recent clean-up drive by the Directorate of Madrasa Education at various madrasas, following a series of corruption allegations, certainly inspires confidence that madrasas are being capably regulated.
Indeed, over the past couple of months, the monthly payment order (MPO) for hundreds of madrasa teachers, including principals, has been suspended and permanently terminated, among other measures taken to combat irregularities. However, some of the other allegations paint a much grimmer picture such as fomenting potential anarchic sensibilities and misogyny to even facilitating child marriage.
These allegations cannot be taken lightly and must be investigated and the necessary punitive measures must be handed out if found to be true.
As educational institutes, madrasas have long lagged behind when it comes to making students informed, knowledgeable citizens. While our national education sector has a lot of issues of its own, our madrasas would benefit immensely were they to be folded into our mainstream education system.
Existing as an entirely separate entity, madrasas have drawn their fair share of criticism for ignoring the subjects and skills needed for a productive life in the 21st century, with the Qawmi system coming under special scrutiny in this regard. A common standard for Qawmi madrasas would, then, be the best way forward.
As educational institutions, Qawmi madrasas can do better by their students in making them more employable -- the Alia madrasa system already teaches a government-approved curriculum, which is why there is absolutely no reason why Qawmi madrasas cannot be brought into the fold as well.
Madrasas have every right to operate, but they need to be made a part of our mainstream education system for the sake of the students.
