Islamic Education in Pakistan

On March 21, 2006 Christine Fair spoke about her recent trip to Pakistan. Fair's fieldwork was conducted with her Pakistan-based colleague Syed Rashad Bukhari and in collaboration with the National Bureau of Asian Research. Fair and Bukhari spent nearly three weeks visiting administrators at ten of the most prominent post-secondary madaris (singular madrassah) located in the cities of Lahore, Mardan, Peshawar, Multan and Karachi. They also interviewed senior faculty and personnel at the International Islamic University Islamabad as well as staff at primary Islamic schools and newly established alternative Islamic schools. The team also interviewed government officials and nongovernmental analysts. Through these interviews and visits, Fair and Bukhari aimed to understand Islamic education in Pakistan and the ways in which this educational sector is responding to the various internal and external demands for reform. During her presentation, Fair provided the audience with an extensive background on madaris and their students. In the second part of her presentation, she discussed specific views expressed by the different stakeholders interviewed. She concluded with some preliminary implications for the governments of the United States and Pakistan. (Contains 5 tables and 26 footnotes.)