Not a single seminary in the federal capital has returned a form from the Federal Education Ministry seeking information about the seminariesÂ’ sources of funding and decrees. The deadline for returning the forms ended on December 30. Among other information sought by the ministry, the seminaries (madaris) affiliated with the Wafaqul Madaris were required to submit details of the decrees each seminary had issued in 2006. Besides, each seminary had to attach an affidavit by its principal that they were ready to introduce formal subjects such as English, mathematics, social studies/Pakistan studies and general science at the primary, middle and secondary level; and English, economics, computer science and Pakistan studies at the intermediate level to integrate religious education with the formal education system.
Maulana Zahoor Alvi, divisional president of the Wafaqul Madaris Al Arabia, told Daily Times that the last date for the submission of the forms was December 30, but not a single seminary affiliated with the five wafaq – representing various schools of thought – had submitted the details. He said that the government had offered that seminaries providing details of the decrees they had issued would get financial assistance under the Madrassa Reforms Project. However, he said that all the five wafaq had decided that no seminary would provide any information to the ministry under any government programme.
“The ulema of Islamabad belonging to the Wafaqul Madaris Al Arabia have already refused to accept any financial assistance offered by the government for teaching formal subjects. They have also pledged that they would not provide any information about foreign students and details about the number of decrees issued in a year from each institute,” said Maulana Alvi, adding that the ulema had decided to return the unfilled forms to government officials if they came to them.