Directorate General of Religious Education

The Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE) was created by the Pakistani government with the aim of integrating religious seminaries into mainstream society. This initiative marked a significant effort to incorporate these seminaries into the broader educational system. In December 2019 then education minister Shafqat Mahmood officially launched the DGRE.[1]

Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE)
AbbreviationDGRE
Formation2019
FounderGovernment of Pakistan
Founded atIslamabad, Pakistan
TypeGovernmental organization
Legal statusActive
PurposeRegulation and mainstreaming of religious seminaries
HeadquartersG-8 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan
Location
  • Pakistan
Region served
Nationwide
Parent organization
Government of Pakistan
Budget
Rs2 billion (initial allocation)
Websitewww.dgre.gov.pk

History and background

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The DGRE was founded by the federal government, marking a historic first for the country. Its purpose is to assist seminaries in the registration process and serve as a center for their facilitation.[2][3][4]

The government is working towards integrating religious seminaries into the mainstream educational framework. The objective is to transition from the existing three separate education systems—public schools, private schools, and Islamic religious schools—towards a unified curriculum. This initiative seeks to provide equal educational opportunities for all students and bridge the educational gap between religious and modern teachings.[3]

Regional offices

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The initial regional office of the DGRE was inaugurated in Lahore.[5] The DGRE, headquartered in Islamabad, has subsequently expanded to encompass a total of 16 regional offices spread across the nation.[5]

Registration of seminaries

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The DGRE successfully registered approximately 5,000 seminaries throughout Pakistan, utilizing its network of 16 regional offices for this purpose. This achievement was notable given the estimated 35,000 seminaries present in the country at that time.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Shafqat inaugurates Directorate General of Religious Affairs for registration of 35000 Madaris". December 19, 2019.
  2. ^ "Directorate being set up to regulate seminaries. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com.
  3. ^ a b "Pakistan to bring religious schools into mainstream". gulfnews.com. May 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Ahmadani, Ahmad (October 25, 2019). "Govt starts registration of seminaries across Pakistan | Pakistan Today".
  5. ^ a b "DGRE first regional office opens in Lahore tomorrow". The Express Tribune. January 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "5,000 seminaries registered across country. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com.
  7. ^ "Govt to lift 'undeclared ban' on madrassahs for opening bank accounts". www.geo.tv.
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