Staff Correspondent
Madrasa education has no direct link with the rise of Islamist militant groups in Bangladesh but its age-old curriculum needs to be modernised, says a research report.
Another strategy paper on public information on intelligence agencies has suggested engagement of community people in preventing terrorist attacks and criminal activities, and thereby ending the culture of excessive secrecy and mistrust.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) on Sunday published the two strategy papers under “People Peace Building Programme” financed by Australia. We cannot link madrasa with militancy. There is no institutional connection [that those educated from there are all militants],” Humayun Kabir, senior research director of BEI, told the launching ceremony of the reports.
Presenting his paper, Kabir pointed out that some madrasa graduates took part in militant activities and Afghan War as did the secular educated people.
He also emphasised investment in improving infrastructure of rural madrasas alongside improving education.
Prof Golam Hossain of Government and Politics of Jahangirnagar University said there should be a serious study on madrasa education and its curriculum should be put in place as they were during its glorious days.
He ruled out the possibility of creating militants through madrasa education.
Editor of daily sun Prof. Dr Syed Anwar Husain termed the typical madrasa education “unconstitutional” in the light of article 17 which speaks of unitary education. “Either you delete the article or we make a unified education,” he said describing the madrasa education as nothing but general education that teaches people all aspects of education.
He expressed his conviction that madrasa teachers are not qualified enough to teach Islamic education.
Prof. Husain also appreciated the strategy paper on “Public Information: The Role of Intelligence Agencies” and said the government must look into suggestion that information must be shared with the people.
In the paper, Shahab Enam Khan, a teacher of International Relations at Jahangirnagar University, said intelligence sharing should not be seen as impediment to national security and there is a need to abolish the organisational politics of inter-agency non-cooperation.
BEI president Farooq Sobhan said there is a gap between intelligence agencies and general public. “Intelligence agencies alone cannot combat terrorism without the help of people,” he added.
Addressing as chief guest, Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Dr Justin Lee lauded the role of government of Bangladesh in addressing terrorism and said Australia is pleased to cooperate with Bangladesh in this regard.
DHAKA, Sept 25 (BSS) - Speakers at a function today said madrasa education should be modernized by incorporating time- befitting and pro-life learning courses in its curriculum with knowledge of information technology to make madrasa students as human resources.
They also emphasized on restructuring whole madrasa education to make it attractive among the students for their better prospects.
The speakers were addressing the launching function of two publications of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) titled 'Public Information: the role of intelligence Agencies in Baqngladesh a strategy paper and Modernization of Madrassa Education in Bangladesh: A Strategy Paper in the conference room
of the institute here.
Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Justin Lee and Editor of the daily Sun Prof Anwar Husain, among others, addressed the function with BEI President Farook Sobhan in the chair.
Senior Research Director of BEI Humayun Kabir made the presentation on Modernization of Madrasa Education in Bangladesh: A Strategy Paper while Project Director of BEI Shahab Enam Khan placed the presentation on the role of intelligence Agencies: A strategy paper at the function.
Humayun Kabir said the BEI has taken a study in order to develop a strategy paper on modernization of madrasa education system in Bangladesh. To this end, a survey was conducted covering two streams of madrasa education, namely, Aliya and Qaumi, prevailing in the country, he added.
While conducting the survey, Humayun said no militancy link was found in madrasa but very few madrasa might have been connection with militancy, which should not reflect the perception of militancy link.
Humayun said the survey revealed that Aliya students were more likely to be integrated with mainstream education system. The problem with their curricula was brought out and the inadequacy of teaching staff was highlighted, he added.
From primary to post-graduate levels, there are about 37,000 madrasas in the country with a total of 33,40,800 students and 2,30732 teachers, according to the study.
Source: http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=10&id=202352&date=2011-09-25
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=202058