The government started madrassa reforms in the backdrop of 9/11, commonly perceived as being under pressure of western powers. Thus, any efforts in this regard are perceived as part of a ‘foreign agenda’.
Not enough research was done to understand these Islamic systems of education, and the term ‘reform’ was used even when there was no consolidated pool of knowledge About the madaaris education system.
This lack of vision and strategy created differences between the stakeholders. Irrespective of concerned ministries and departments, the debate about these systems gained an emotive element as well.
This mitigated the impacts of any proposed reforms, since it was unclear what was needed to be done to control the madaris to curb terrorism, and what substantive reforms were needed to upgrade this education system.
Initially, wafaqs or boards held negotiations with the government individually. Later on, they developed an umbrella organization consisting of five wafaqs or boards known as the IMTP.
The IMTP termed the reforms program as a conspiracy of the West. They said that the government, to implement US and Western agendas, was alleging that madaaris produce terrorists, and are hideouts of extremists.
They maintain that this is completely misguiding and incorrect. They argue that the condition of the public sector educational institutions concerning radicalization is also very bad, but question why the government is concentrating on madaaris instead of improving the mainstream educational system in public sector.
The IMTP are of the view that the government has consistently failed to take any concrete decision regarding madrassa reforms, since it does not appear to be serious in this regard. As the main government arm spearheading these reforms, IMTP hold the bureaucracy responsible for lack of progress.
With regard to curriculum reforms, the government tried to introduce modern subjects in the curriculum of madrassas. In the beginning some religious clerics declared the teaching of Computer and English in the madaaris as un-Islamic and forbidden in Islam. However, computer and English language are gradually making their inroads to the madaaris. The ITMP, after negotiations with the government, agreed to introduce compulsory contemporary subjects at tenth class (Matric) and 12th class (Intermediate) levels.
According to some representatives of madaaris, madaaris administrations are not against reforms per se. For instance, Maulana Yasin Zafar stated in an interview that there is space of improvement in everything created by human beings. However, if madaaris were under supervision and patronage of the government, reforms would have been rational. Nevertheless, the madaaris are in the realm of the private sector, where reform is neither possible according to the government aspirations, nor can the government effectively control them.
Maulana Raghib Naeemi , representatives of madaaris, is of the view that the government was planning to control madaaris, but ITMP ‘bravely’ fought against Musharraf’s government and did not compromise on their independence. Clergy thought that Actually, the madaaris reform was negotiated under agenda of the U.S.”
One source said that “There is space for improvement especially in specialization. We do not need funds of the government, but (prefer to) remain independent.” A renowned maulana Qari Hanif Jallandhary remarked about the reforms, “It was (the) demand of the government that modern education should be part of the wafaq’s curriculum. The government asked for the introduction of Mathematics, Geography, English, Pak-Study and Science, and we included these subjects as it is the need of the hour. In fact, the government is trying to control madaaris through reforms, but we cannot compromise on our independence. There is no personal interest in this regard but we feel that our performance is up-to the mark without government assistance. We can see that institutions controlled by the government are on the verge of collapse. The government is privatizing its various institutions, but it is surprising that it is trying to control religious seminaries.” He further explained, “Only the wafaq can bring changes in madaaris as it can order all madaaris affiliated to include all modern subjects in their madaaris. We agreed with the government that the wafaq will adopt the curriculum of the government text board, but the problem is that we hold examinations according to the lunar calendar and at that time there are no examinations of the government boards.” He claimed, “The government wants to control madaris administratively and educationally. Educationally, it wants to implement its own curriculum.”