Archive · 25 Jan 2026
Pakistan's Struggle to Integrate Modern and Religious Education
Pakistan is trying to mix religious teachings with modern subjects in its schools and universities.
While many people agree this is a good idea, it's not happening very well.
Some schools add English or computer classes, but these changes are not deep enough.
Experts say that to really work, the schools need to teach students how to think about modern ideas using their religious knowledge.
Right now, only a few people are doing this well, and there's no clear plan for all schools to follow.
This makes it hard for Pakistan to create students who can understand both their faith and the modern world.
Pakistan's educational institutions aim to blend religious teachings with modern knowledge but struggle to achieve meaningful integration.
Reforms often focus on superficial additions like English and computer classes rather than deep intellectual engagement.
Historical efforts like Aligarh Muslim University and Nadwatul Ulama have attempted to merge traditional and modern education.
Experts argue that a coherent model is lacking, and institutions fail to address modern philosophy, science, and global ideological challenges.
Systemic issues include market-driven education metrics and the sidelining of ethics, political thought, and economic philosophy.
- Who
- Pakistan's religious seminaries, madrasas, Islamic universities, academics, Islamic scholars, policymakers, and economists
- What
- The struggle to integrate religious teachings with modern knowledge in Pakistan's educational institutions
- When
- Discussions ahead of the International Day for Education on January 24
- Where
- Pakistan, with references to historical efforts in South Asia and international benchmarks like Egypt's Al-Azhar University
- Why
- To produce well-rounded Muslims equipped to navigate faith and contemporary life, and to address rising secularism, atheism, and technological shifts
- International Day for Education
- January 24
- Key Institutions
- Aligarh Muslim University, Nadwatul Ulama, Jamiatur Rasheed, Alimia Foundation
- Notable Figures
- Shamsuddin Shigri, Aneeq Ahmed, Mufti Irshad, Mufti Afnan, Mufti Taqi Usmani, Khurram Ilahi
- Critical Issues
- Lack of coherent model, superficial reforms, absence of intellectual synthesis
- Systemic Challenges
- Market-driven metrics, sidelining of ethics, political thought, and economic philosophy
- International Benchmarks
- Egypt's Al-Azhar University
- Core Challenge
- Epistemological integration of 'tawhid' (monotheism) with all learning