Pakistani Govt Reveals 17,738 Madrassas and 2,249,520 Enrolled Students Registered

The Pakistani government has provided detailed statistics on registered religious seminaries, known as madrasas, and their student populations across the country. As of December 2024, a total of 17,738 madrasas are officially registered, with an enrollment of 2,249,520 students.

Provincial and Regional Breakdown

These figures were presented in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who emphasized the government’s commitment to integrating madrasas into the mainstream education system. He acknowledged concerns about unregistered madrasas, particularly issues related to untrained teachers, and reported incidents of violence and abuse. Tarar noted that while the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE) oversees registered madrasas, there is no comprehensive data on unregistered ones.

The DGRE has taken steps to support registered madrasas by providing 1,196 trained teachers to 598 institutions and supplying textbooks to 154,849 students, aiming to enhance contemporary education within these religious schools.

The government’s initiative to register and regulate madrasas is part of a broader effort to ensure quality education and address concerns related to unregistered institutions. However, challenges remain in bringing all madrasas under official oversight and ensuring compliance with educational standards.