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A Study of Madrasas of Kerala: An Overview

Prof. Sushma Jaireth Mr. Shiraz.S Ms. Khadija Siddiqui
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Introduction
The Kerala Muslims, estimated at around a fourth of the states population, is the most well educated Muslim community in the country. Although some Madrasas of the traditional type do exist in Kerala, they have been overtaken by a large and expanding network of reformed Madrasas that have incorporated modern subjects and teaching methods of varying degrees. The reformed Madrasas in Kerala highlight the diversity within the Madrasa education system of the country as a whole in comparison to traditional Madrasas of north India. As a part of the study to understand the gender perspective in the Madrasa education system, the field work was conducted in sample districts Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram of state Kerala. During this visit a number of Madrasas known as the Islamic educational institutions of both the districts were visited for data collection. It was found that these Islamic educational institutions were following different schools of thought and philosophies like Jamaat-e-Islami, Nadvathul Mujahideen, Samastha Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema, Dakshina Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema and Tabligi Jamaat. Further, some of these institutions in district Malappuram are also running courses which are affiliated with University of Calicut and are thus getting the government grant according to UGC norms.

Objectives
The major Objectives of the above mentioned study are to:Analyze the curriculum of Maktabs and Madrasas from the view point of gender bias and gender stereotyping Examine the gender perceptions of students (both girls and boys), teachers, head teachers/ Principal and the community leaders. Evolve strategies for education and empowerment of Muslim girls
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Professor and Principal Investigator, Department of Womens Studies, NCERT, New Delhi Junior Project Fellow, Department of Womens Studies, NCERT, New Delhi

Research Methodology
The present study is a blend of quantitative and qualitative methods. Primary data of the study is based on the field work conducted in the Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. Data was collected with the help of structured schedules/questionnaires, which were canvassed to all the stakeholders of education i.e. students, teachers, head teachers/principal and the community leaders. Tools were developed in English and later were translated in to local language Malayalam. Focused group discussions were held with the stakeholders to know more on the relevant information and examine their perception on gender and related issues.

Islamic Education System

In Kerala there exists the different levels of Islamic education system, which has been categorised and termed as follows: Othupalli (Morning or Evening Madrasa in Malayalam) Dars system(Mosque centric residential learning system) Arabic or Islamiya colleges (Students studying both Islamic and Material subjects in residential campus) Islamic Universities (Affiliated to international Islamic Universities and provide research level courses)

Students of Guidance Arabic College, a co-ed institution, Edakkara, Malappuram district

Courses Offered:
The following are the courses and degrees offered by Islamic institutes.
Courses run by different Islamic Institutes Afzalul Ulama Usooluddin Arts & Islamic Course Kulliathul Quran Kulliathul Hadeeth Kulliathus Shareeah Kulliathud Dawa Alimiyat Fazilat etc. Bachelor of Usooluddin Masters in Quran, Hadeeth, Shareeah & Dawa Hudavi Mannani Hudhaibi Salafi etc. Degrees/certification offered by Islamic Institutes

Organizational Philosophy:
The schools of thought and the Organizational Philosophies operating in Kerala have been explained below in brief:Jamat-e-Islami Hind Kerala Chapter Jamaat-e-Islami is a progressive Muslim organization of Kerala. Establishment of religion-Islam-as a complete way of life i.e. Iqamathuddin, is the prime objective of Jamaat-e-Islami. According to this philosophy,

Administrative building of Al Jamia Al Islamiya, Santapuram of Malappuram district is known as the trend setter in the field of Islamic education. This is the only institution in Kerala providing P.G Diploma in Islamic Banking and Finance.

4 human life can not be divided in to religious and material. Islam addresses the human beings as a whole. Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala is the first organization in Kerala which started a womens Arabic college called Madrasathul Banath at Chennamangalloor of Kozhikode district.

Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) KNM is the counterpart of the Ahl-e-Hadeeth of north India. They believe that Muslims need to go back to the basic sources of faith, the Quran and Hadith, by passing centuries of tradition as represented by medieval fiqh and Sufism. Followers of the movement call themselves Mujahids who are based only in Kerala who are against superstitions and corrupt practices that have crept into Muslim society.

Samastha Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema The majority of Kerala Muslims are called as Sunnis who adhere to the shafi school of sunni jurisprudence. They follow various forms of Sufism. They are mainly divided in to two fractions, have separate leaders and separate Madrasa Boards too.

Dakshina Kerala Jamyiathul Ulema They have the set up of traditional Madrasas. It is mainly an organization of

Students along with their teacher in the evening Madrasa, Al MadrasathulIslamiya, Karimatom colony, Thiruvananthapuram

5 Islamic scholars of South Kerala. Usually they also follow Deobandi School of thought and the ideology of Tabligi Jamaat. Tablighi Jamaat Tablighi jamaati works for the spiritual reformation of the Muslim community from 1926. It is keeping relationship with people related to different social and economical levels. It works to remove the corrupt practices in the spiritual sphere of Muslim life.

Observations
Some of the significant observations due to the institutions visited in Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of state Kerala are mentioned as follows: There is no Madrasa Board in Kerala at government level. Physical infrastructure of Islamic learning centres of both districts though varying according to the financial set-up of the institution attempts to meet the needs of their students. A lot of emphasis is given to English and computer education along with Islamic Education. These skills are imparted in a specialised manner by these institutions from first to final year.

Interaction with the stakeholders of Al-Furqan Educational Complex, Vaniyambalam of Malappuram

6 Most of the Islamic institutes of Thiruvananthapuram district are traditional in nature, yet they are making an effort and are trying to incorporate secular subjects, while their Malappuram counter parts are providing ample facilities to their students to get +2, B.A and M.A degrees from the recognized universities. Institutes running an Islamic Course (AIC) under Majlissu Talimul Islami have a specially designed curriculum, which is a mix of subjects taught in the Islamic and University. These subjects are Arabic, Sociology, Economics and Commerce, which are offered at Graduate Degree and Post Graduation levels. Curriculum of these institutions is structured to prepare their students more effectively to get moral and modern education which will prepare them to meet the challenges of the real world. Medium of instruction is either in Arabic or English. Besides, few institutes are following Malayam, the local Language. Students are moving to English/Malayalam medium in State or CBSE schools after completing their two hours morning Madrasa from 7.00 AM to 9.00 Am. Some of the students are also moving to evening Madrasas from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm after completing their regular school. Numbers of women in the administrative and teaching positions are very less even in girls institutions. Teacher student relationship seems to be harmonious. Some of the girls institutions also welcome girls under difficult circumstances.

Movements influencing Islamic education

In Kerala the following major organisations manage the Islamic institutes which were visited for the above mentioned study. These major organisations manage the private organisational Madrasa boards mentioned below. It is significant to mention here that the whole Islamic education system has been highly influenced by Islamic reformist movements like Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Kerala Chapter and Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, which have brought radical changes in the school of thoughts and the philosophies, hence modernising peoples mindsets.

Major Organizations Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Kerala Chapter. Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen.

Organizational Madrasa Boards Majlissu Taalimul Islami Kerala Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen Vidhyabhyasa Board The Council for Islamic Education and Research(CIER)

Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema.

Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidhyabhyasa Board(SKIMVB) Samastha Kerala Sunni Islam Matha Vidhyabhyasa Board(SKSIMVB)

Dakshina Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema. Tabligi Jamaat

Dakshina Kerala Islam Matha Vidhyabhyasa Board (DKIMVB)

Institutions Visited
Following Madrasas were visited in Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala Madrasas visited Khadijathul Kubra banath &Arabic college, Balaramapuram. Jamia Hidaya Shareeath College, Thattamala-PO,Kilimanoor Islamic Educational Complex, Azhekodu, Nedumangadu. Salafi Centre, Oottu Kuzhi. Nibrasul Islam Arts & Arabic college, Pallinada, Kaniyapuram. Makhdoomiya Dawa College, Parayathu konam PO, Attingal. Jamia Salahiya Islamiya Arabic College, Kallambalam. Islamic Educatonal Complex for Boys, Umayanalloor. Jamia Hudaibiyya arabiccollege, vellanchira, panavoor. Pallikkal Banath, Pallikal-PO. IslamicUniversity Varkala, SV Puram-po, Varkala

Al Jamia Al Islamia, Sanatapuram, Pattikkadu Womens Islamia College, Wandoor Roudhathul Uloom Arabic College, Feroke Jamia Salafia, Pulickal. Anwarul Islam Womens Arabic College, Mongam. Jamia Nadwiyya,Edavanna. Guidance college,Edarikkara Jamia Hikamiya, Pappinippara, Manjeri. Najmul Huda Madrasa,Vettakkodu, Manjeri. Al-Furqan Educational Complex, Vaniyambalam. Darul Huda Islamic Academy, Tirurangadi.

Al Ghaiz Islamic & Arts College for Girls, Karthala. Madrasthul Islamiya, Islamic Cultural centre, Pottavila, Karamana Madrasa Abubacker siddique. Malappuram Orphanage Madrasa. Madrasathul Islamiya, Karimatam colony, Attakkulangara.