Qawmi
Encyclopedia
Qawmi is an adjective
describing one of the two major madrasah
education
al categories in Bangladesh
. By definition, all madrasahs not regulated by the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board are Qawmi. As private
charitable organizations, Qawmi madrasahs are supported almost exclusively by donation
.
The theological
curriculum
of the Qawmi madrasahs predominantly follow the Islam
ic Deobandi
model. In the past, the degrees they conferred lacked accreditation
or official recognition unlike those conferred by official Alia madrasahs (also spelled "Aliya" and "Aliah"), which follow the Calcutta Alia tradition. Starting in 2006, two years after the founding of the privately run Befaqul Mudarressin education board
for Qawmi madrasahs, the Bangladeshi government
began to recognize some Qawmi degrees.
As of 2006, there were approximately 15,000 registered Qawmi madrasahs in Bangladesh, with 200,000 (2 lakh
) teachers educating 4,000,000 (40 lakh
) students. Actual figures are unknown and Qawmi madrasas do not keep enrollment records. Moreover, it has been argued that if unregistered Qawmi madrasahs were counted then it could put the total number of Bangladeshi madrasahs as high as 64,000—suggesting that Qawmi madrasahs outnumber their official Alia counterparts (of which 25,201 existed in 2004).
, these types of madrasahs were called "Khariji," or outside of government. Later, the term "Qawmi" emerged from the word "qom" (meaning "the public")—stemming from the fact that Qawmi madrasahs reject state funding and instead rely on donations from the public.
After 1971, some Qawmi madrasahs began to modernize their teaching, such as by switching the language of instruction
from Urdu
to Bangla and adding some English language and mathematics lessons. In 1978, a government body called the "Non-government Education Board" was established in an attempt to co-ordinate these madrasahs, of which 2,043 registered with that board by 1998.
The later part of the 20th century saw a major largely unregulated growth in the whole madrasah sector, which expanded from roughly 4,100 schools in 1986 to potentially as many as 64,000 schools by 2005.
The Befaqul Mudarressin of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board was formed in 2004. Soon afterwards, in 2006, the Bangladeshi government began recognizing and supporting the Qawmi system. By this time, approximately 15,000 madrasahs had registered with the Befaqul Mudarressin.
curriculum and those that have a modified Nizami curriculum (such as by including English language
and mathematics
lessons).
The Dars-i-Nizami system originated from early eighteenth century India
. There is some controversy regarding movements to "reform" the system, with some calling the move "an 'anti-Islamic' conspiracy, alleging that these are a means to secularise madrasas and rob them of their Islamic identity"—though reformers generally contest that they do not want secularization and that they are not a conspiracy.
In general, Qawmi primary education lasts six years, though it does not differentiate students by progressive grade levels. While the Qawmi primary level covers all subjects found in other madrasah systems, there is no specific time-sequence or order by which subjects are taught as would be expected in grade-based systems. Thus, imposing class-graduated terminology on the Qawmi system may not be meaningful.
, including seven smaller private Madrasah education boards. It is an extension of the process that formed the Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia, Pakistan in 1957.
The board was founded to assure a standardized curriculum and to provide centralized examination. Membership with the board is voluntary, though required for degree accreditation by the Befaqul Mudarressin.
It is organized under a three-tiered representative system led an executive body. The second tier committee comprises senior madrasahs, followed a third tier of ordinary member schools.
s in Bangladesh
:
Adjective
In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified....
describing one of the two major madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al categories in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. By definition, all madrasahs not regulated by the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board are Qawmi. As private
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
charitable organizations, Qawmi madrasahs are supported almost exclusively by donation
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
.
The theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
of the Qawmi madrasahs predominantly follow the Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Deobandi
Deobandi
Deobandi is a movement of Sunni Islam. The movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.-History:...
model. In the past, the degrees they conferred lacked accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
or official recognition unlike those conferred by official Alia madrasahs (also spelled "Aliya" and "Aliah"), which follow the Calcutta Alia tradition. Starting in 2006, two years after the founding of the privately run Befaqul Mudarressin education board
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
for Qawmi madrasahs, the Bangladeshi government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
began to recognize some Qawmi degrees.
As of 2006, there were approximately 15,000 registered Qawmi madrasahs in Bangladesh, with 200,000 (2 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
) teachers educating 4,000,000 (40 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
) students. Actual figures are unknown and Qawmi madrasas do not keep enrollment records. Moreover, it has been argued that if unregistered Qawmi madrasahs were counted then it could put the total number of Bangladeshi madrasahs as high as 64,000—suggesting that Qawmi madrasahs outnumber their official Alia counterparts (of which 25,201 existed in 2004).
History
Qawmi educational practices originate from the traditional Muslim educational system of Bangladesh. During the British colonial periodBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, these types of madrasahs were called "Khariji," or outside of government. Later, the term "Qawmi" emerged from the word "qom" (meaning "the public")—stemming from the fact that Qawmi madrasahs reject state funding and instead rely on donations from the public.
After 1971, some Qawmi madrasahs began to modernize their teaching, such as by switching the language of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
from Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
to Bangla and adding some English language and mathematics lessons. In 1978, a government body called the "Non-government Education Board" was established in an attempt to co-ordinate these madrasahs, of which 2,043 registered with that board by 1998.
The later part of the 20th century saw a major largely unregulated growth in the whole madrasah sector, which expanded from roughly 4,100 schools in 1986 to potentially as many as 64,000 schools by 2005.
The Befaqul Mudarressin of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board was formed in 2004. Soon afterwards, in 2006, the Bangladeshi government began recognizing and supporting the Qawmi system. By this time, approximately 15,000 madrasahs had registered with the Befaqul Mudarressin.
Qawmi education systems
There are two major Qawmi educational systems: those that use the old Dars-i-NizamiDars-i-Nizami
Dars-i Nizami is a study curriculum used in a large portion of Islamic religious school in South Asia. It was standardized Mullah Nizamuddin Sehalvi at Firangi Mahal, a famous seminary belonging to a family of Islamic scholars in Lucknow, India.The Dars-i-Nizami system orginated from early 18th...
curriculum and those that have a modified Nizami curriculum (such as by including English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
lessons).
The Dars-i-Nizami system originated from early eighteenth century India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. There is some controversy regarding movements to "reform" the system, with some calling the move "an 'anti-Islamic' conspiracy, alleging that these are a means to secularise madrasas and rob them of their Islamic identity"—though reformers generally contest that they do not want secularization and that they are not a conspiracy.
In general, Qawmi primary education lasts six years, though it does not differentiate students by progressive grade levels. While the Qawmi primary level covers all subjects found in other madrasah systems, there is no specific time-sequence or order by which subjects are taught as would be expected in grade-based systems. Thus, imposing class-graduated terminology on the Qawmi system may not be meaningful.
Befaqul Mudarressin of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board
In 2004, many Qawmi madrasahs began organizing together under an umbrella organization called the Befaqul Mudarressin (also transliterated as Wafaq ul Madaris) of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board, based in DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, including seven smaller private Madrasah education boards. It is an extension of the process that formed the Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia, Pakistan in 1957.
The board was founded to assure a standardized curriculum and to provide centralized examination. Membership with the board is voluntary, though required for degree accreditation by the Befaqul Mudarressin.
It is organized under a three-tiered representative system led an executive body. The second tier committee comprises senior madrasahs, followed a third tier of ordinary member schools.
Statistics
As of 2008, the board oversees almost 9000 madrasahs at the following levels:| Level | Analogue/description | # of Schools* |
|---|---|---|
| Takhmil | Master's | 300 |
| Fazilat | Bachelor's | 200 |
| Sanaria ammah | secondary Secondary school Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place... |
1000 |
| Mutawassitah | lower secondary Middle school Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable... |
2000 |
| Ibtedayi | primary | 3000 |
| Tahfeez ul Quran | memorisation of the Qur'an Qur'an The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language... |
2000 |
| *Madrasahs are listed by highest level taught since some offer more than one level. | ||
Notable Qawmi schools
The following are some of the notable Qawmi MadrasahMadrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
s in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
:
- Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam — also known as "Boro (big) MadrasahMadrasahMadrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
" - Jamia Tawakkulia Renga MadrasahJamia Tawakkulia Renga MadrasahJamia Tawakkulia Renga Madrasah is located in Mogla Bazar, about 13 km south of district Sylhet, Bangladesh.It is one of the largest Islamic institutions in Bangladesh and the biggest in Greater Sylhet district. It was founded in 1919 by Arkan Ali; later ran by his son Badrul Alam , a...
in SylhetSylhetSylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills... - Jamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia Lalkhan BazarJamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia Lalkhan BazarJamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia Lalkhan Bazar, popularly known as Lalkhan Bazar Madrasah, is a well-known Qawmi madrasah situated in the Lalkhan Bazar area of port city Chittagong.-Education system:...
— also known as "Lalkhan Bazar Madrasah" - Jamia Qurania Arabia LalbaghJamia Qurania Arabia LalbaghJamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh is an institution for higher Islamic studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It has seven education sections from kindergarten to post-graduate levels.-History:...
- Al-Jamiah Al-Islamiah PatiyaAl-Jamiah Al-Islamiah PatiyaAl-Jamiah Al-Islamiah, Patiya , a private Qawmi Jāmiʿah, is one of the largest centers in South-East Asia and the second largest in Bangladesh, after Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam, for Islamic knowledge and learning .A number of students studying at Al-Jamiah Al-Islamiah, Patiya are new...
- Al-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah, ZiriAl-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah, ZiriAl-Jamiatul Arabiatul Islamiah, Ziri , or Jamiah Islamiah Arabia, is a private and the third largest Qaumi Islamic University in Bangladesh. Mujahede Millat Shah Moulana Ahmad Hasan established the Jamiah in 1328 Hijri CE. It is situated at Ziri, Patiya about five km east from Chittagong...
See also
- List of Qawmi Madrasas in Bangladesh
- Education in BangladeshEducation in BangladeshThe educational system in Bangladesh is three-tiered and highly subsidized. The government of Bangladesh operates many schools in the primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. It also subsidizes parts of the funding for many private schools...
- Islam in BangladeshIslam in BangladeshIslam is the largest religion of Bangladesh, the Muslim population is approximately 148.6 million, which is the third largest Muslim population in the world, constituting 90.4% of the total population as of 2010. Religion has always been a strong part of identity, but this has varied at different...
- Religious educationReligious educationIn secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
- Charity schoolCharity schoolA charity school, also called Blue Coat School, was significant in the History of education in England. They were erected and maintained in various parishes, by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants, for teaching poor children to read, write, and other necessary parts of education...