Seen as a beacon of moderate teachings, Turkey’s madrasas (religious schools) are growing as a role model for schools around the world.
“Of course imam-hatip schools should shed light on Islam and the profession of being an imam”, Huseyin Korkut, Association of Imam-hatip Graduates President, told Sunday's Zaman on January 3.
“We are happy to be a model".
Imam-hatip schools are a secondary education institution in Turkey.
The schools were originally established to train government employed imams after madrasas were abolished under the Republic founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
There are more than 500 Imam-hatip schools in Turkey, serving more than 100,000 students.
In addition to curricula taught in public schools, the Imam-hatip schools offer additional courses on Islam.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a graduate from one of imam-hatip schools.
Originally alumni were able to go on to study in any faculty of Turkish universities, but the rules were changed in 1999 to restrict Imam-hatip graduates to faculties of theology alone.
Role Model
The schools have become an attraction for students from around the world to study Islam.
“In a globalized world, to be taken as a model gives us a responsibility," said Korkut.
A Russian delegation visited Turkey two week ago to consider setting up a number of Imam-hatip schools to meet the growing demand among Russian Muslims for religious education.
Pakistan and several Balkan countries have also showed a growing interest in the Turkish schools.
A number of Imam-hatip schools have already been established by Bulgaria to meet the local demand.
"To reflect the experience we have gained in the best way possible cannot only be left to the government; this is also our duty,” said Korkut.
Turkey has opened an Imam-hatib school in Kayseri province in Central Turkey to educate 325 students from Europe and Asia.
Another school is being constructed in Istanbul.
In their first years at the schools, foreign students study Turkish before going on with the standard curriculum.
Turkey and Russia have recently signed an agreement allow 100 Russian students to have post-graduate education in Islam in Turkey next year.
Some professors of theology will also be sent to Russia from Turkey.
Capitalizing on the schools’ success, Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation (TDV) plans to launch a university to attract students from Balkan countries.
By IslamOnline
