A Research Review of Present Curriculum of Pakistan’s Religious Madrassas and some Possible Aspects of its Improvement

پاکستان کے دینی مدارس کا موجودہ نصاب اور بہتری کے بعض ممکنہ پہلو ؤں کا جائزہ

Abstract

In our loving country Pakistan, different types of educational institutions are working. There are three different types of education systems running here. These education systems or educational institutions includes government schools , Private schools and Religious schools ( Dini Madris). There are three parallel education systems running simultaneously in Pakistan and different curricula are being taught in these three types of educational institutions. Apart from the curriculum, there is a big difference between them. As far as religious madrassas are concerned , the religious madrassas established in Pakistan have their own special historical background. The importance of religious madrassas in various respects is undeniable. These are the religious schools ( Dini Madaris ) that are providing the good and virtuous people that the society needs. The role of religious madrassas in eradicating ignorance and illiteracy from the country does not need any introduction or statement. Compared to other educational institutions of Pakistan , free education is provided in religious madrassas which is considered as a great boon to the society , country and nation. Religious schools in Pakistan teach Quran, Hadith, Seerah, Fiiq, Syntax and Logic etc. These religious madrassas are operating under different federations (wafaq). The role of religious madrassas is also very important and glorious in the sense that it does a great job of building the society. Secondly , the students graduating from these religious schools ( Dini Madaris ) are the inheritors of the Companions and Sciences of  the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who graduated from  the first religious Madrasa “Suffa” established by Holly Prophet ﷺ in Madina. The syllabus being taught in the religious schools of Pakistan is called Dars e Nizami , which is attributed to Mulana Nizam ud Din Suhalvi ( d. 1161 AH). The curriculum included books on various sciences and arts. With the passage of time some partial changes have been made in this syllabus as per the need and circumstances, but even today this syllabus is called Dars e Nizami. This research article will attempt to take a scholarly look at the syllabus of religious schools affiliated to different federations in Pakistan and at the same time consider possible aspects of improvement. A special discussion will be held on the extent to which Seerah is included in the syllabus of our religious schools and the extent to which it needs to be changed and improved.

Key Words:  Religious Madrassas, Curriculum, Syllabus, Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ , Improvement and Changes etc.