As an institution that is an integral part of
both the Muslim community and the larger Singapore society, the madrasah and
the education it provides rightly deserve attention at a time of rapid and
complex economic, social and religious changes and developments globally and
locally.
This book aims to understand the current
state and complexity of madrasah education in Singapore, and to identify
some key issues affecting the field in particular and education and society
in general. It also aims to serve as an intellectual contribution to the
ongoing debates and concerns in the field and which affect the interests of
Muslim and national communities.
Consistent with its aims, the book is issue-
as well as policy-driven, with a focus on broad policy implications and
where policy meets community and culture. It is targeted at leaders,
policy-makers, scholars, educationists, teachers, parents, students and the
general public alike. Its chapters cover the madrasah’s historical
evolution; recent and current debates and state-community negotiations over
key issues such as compulsory education, students’ performance and
madrasah’s autonomy; the aims of madrasah education and their attendant
problems and perceptions; evaluative critiques of madrasah education in
diverse contexts and lessons derived; public policy management of the
proposed change to compulsory education; a case example of a madrasah; and
the concepts of knowledge and education and institutions of learning in
Islam.
Given the vast changes taking place in the
wider educational and social landscapes of Singapore, this volume is an
important and timely contribution towards understanding and managing change
of this important educational institution.
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