Madrasah education in Singapore : the struggle to survive

Abstract

Discussion on madrasah education in Singapore seems to be circumscribed by the state’s

perception of the attendant problems of madrasah education, the community’s negative reactions

to the state’s policies regarding madrasah education, and parents’ perceptions of these madrasahs.

This study seeks to fill the gap on the lived experiences and viewpoints of madrasah students and

graduates through in-depth interviews with madrasah graduates. It attempts to explore why and

how the state exercises its disciplinary gaze on madrasah students, and how madrasah graduates

employ strategies of resistance in negotiating the reality of being Muslim and Singaporean amidst

state control. The thesis would also attempt to explore how strongly these students identify and

interact with fellow Singaporeans, and whether they feel duty-bound to become religious

teachers.