Role of Madrassa Education in Present Globalized Society: Perspectives of Religious Teachers of Southern Punjab.

The main purpose of this qualitative study was to document the perspectives of religious teachers regarding the role of madrassa education system in present globalized society. All the teachers of the madrassas of the four major sects of Muslims (Brailvi, Ahlehadith, Deobundi, Ahletashsho) serving in Southern Punjab constituted the population for this study. To achieve the objective, twenty eight (28) madrassa teachers, seven (07) from each sect (05 male+ 02female) were purposefully selected as sample from madrassas of Multan city keeping in view their experience and extent of willingness. Data were collected through a self-developed semi-structured interview protocol and analyzed by applying qualitative techniques. It was found that madrassa teachers were satisfied with the madrassa curriculum as for as its basic goals and purposes were concerned. Madrassa education system does not prepare graduates to compete in present day economy market. The data revealed that madrassa education system of Pakistan was peace loving and unjustly blamed for extremism. The religious teachers urged that multi-social roles of madrassa education system justify its existence even in present globalized society. It was suggested that radical reforms were imperative in some areas of madrassa education to bring it in line with modern education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]