Strengthening Education in the Muslim World. Summary of the Desk Study. Issue Paper.

This issue paper, one in a series that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) produces, provides analytical input to policy makers and practitioners on ways to address the pressing educational challenges in the Muslim world. The paper summarizes the findings and guidance contained in a full report of a three month desk study that analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of secular and Islamic educational systems in 12 Muslim countries (Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Uzbekistan). It focuses particularly on access to and quality of secular and Islamic education. Key findings of the report are: (1) most countries studied have made significant strides in primary school enrollment in secular/public education systems, although secondary enrollment rates remain low; and (2) one of the strengths of Islamic schools in most of the countries studied is that they are highly accessible, and most do not appear to have links with extremist Islamic groups. The report concludes that the best educational strategies in Muslim countries encourage public and moderate Islamic school systems to complement each other to reach all learners with enriched content. It recommends ways to improve access to and quality within schools, noting that none of the countries studied, with the exception of Malaysia, has established an effective education system capable of providing universal access to quality education. Includes 14 notes. Annexes contain: "Summary of Country Education Profiles" and "Summary of Country Profiles of Islamic Schools." (BT)