Exploring Quality Factors in Madrasa Education of Pakistan

Purpose: In Pakistan, madrasas (Islamic religious seminaries) are the centres of exclusive religious education. Their graduates have a special social status as the clergymen, having an effective socio-political impact on the society. However, despite their importance, the madrassa system has least conception of quality education. This study was intended to identify the factors of quality in madrassa education of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach : The research work is exploratory study and qualitative method was used. Data was collected through interviews and focus groups. For this study, all the madrassa heads, teachers and students of Pakistan were the targeted population. Purposive and convenient sampling was done for the study. Four madrassa leaders of high profile and two expert researchers on madrassa education participated in the study as interviewees. Two Focus groups were arranged for madrassa students and another two for madrassa teachers, each having 6 participants. The data, so collected, was transcribed and interpreted through manual thematic analysis. Findings : The study identifies educational ideology, objectives of a madrassa system, policies of the institution and accreditation board, curriculum to be followed, teaching process, teachers, students, leaders/administrators, resources, infrastructure of the madrassa campus and facilities as the quality factors in madrassa education system of Pakistan. Originality: The research work will provide a base for research on the quality education in madrassa system. It has identified the key factors of quality and research work can be conducted on each of these factors in coming studies.