Madrassas, said to be breeding ground for extremism: can they be controlled by the government?

In the ‘total war’ waged by Pakistan against the Taliban, the Zardari government wants to fence in the Koranic schools which the West accuses of being breeding ground for jihadists. These institutions are under fire because of their alleged influence on the spirit of militancy. As it is, all madrassas in Pakistan are still outside of government control.

Due to strong international pressure, Pakistan launched a reform plan four years ago to monitor these sites. Currently, the government has not managed to complete its goals. The major bone of contention remains to be the criteria that serve religious education. This situation is further aggravated by the absolute mistrust between civilian authorities and the fundamentalist religious.

In 2008, some estimates place the number of madrassas operating in Pakistan at over 40,000. However, the madrassa student population accounts for only two percent of all students in the country. Those enrolled at these Koranic schools usually come from very poor families who are without resources to support the children. The madrassas that offer free education, free accommodation, food, and clothing seem like the best NGO in the world for this poor population.

The United States has decided to triple its aid to Pakistan in return for the country’s pledge to fight terrorism. The US realizes that terrorism and insurgency have their root cause in poverty and social degradation. In the meantime, the madrassas are a logical option for poor Pakistanis who seek shelter, food and, if possible, education.

The money that funds the madrassas comes from the ‘zakat’ or the alms-giving and tithing that Muslims pay annually to hospitals, charities and Islamic schools, as well as private donations. These institutions refuse to accept money from the government because that will be tantamount to relinquishing their religious independence.

In India, there is a recent move to restructure the madrassa educational system, this time putting emphasis on professional training. However, the government vows not to interfere in the religious teachings.