Religious schools are often cited as a cause of extremism in Pakistan. The children in these seminaries are very often victims of abject poverty. The poverty driven parents send these children to seminaries in greed of a meal or two per day but they have no idea what type of education is being provided under this shelter.
A total of 2.5 million students in 2010 are studying in madaris, so it is very important to work on reforms to bring this lot into the mainstream. The action of federal minister for education Sardar Aseff in favour of these educational reforms for madaris is a step in the right direction.
As a concerned citizen I write this letter to praise this action and urge similar ones that will secure the future of this country.
ETHSAM WAHEED
Islamabad