Primary Education in the middle age

[Noor E Alam]

Middle age Hazrat Muhammad (Pbuh.) brought' a renaissance among the Arabs in eighth century. The Muslims came to Indian subcontinent in the eighth century when Mohammad Bin Kashim conquered Sind by defeating King Dahir. Although Islamic empire was established in the north-western India by Mohammad Bin Kashim. Muslim rule started in Bengal when Bakhtiyar Khalji conquered Nadia in thirteen century. He established mosques, maktabs and madrasas in different places of the country. The Muslim rulers after Bakhtiyar Khalji followed this method of establishing mosques, maktabs and madrasas to spread education.

Afterwards Mohammad Ghori (1174-1206), Sultan Iltutmish (1211-36), her daughter Sultana Razia (1236-40), Sultan Nasiruddin (1246-66) and Sultan Giasuddin Balban (1266-87), all appreciated the importance of education. Besides sufi- darbish or pir-fakir (who came to Bengal for preaching Islam) also established khankah, maktabs and madrasas in different places in the country. In the Khalji and Tughlaq era, the Muslim education or Arabic Education and culture became enriched and spread even more. In the middle age, education system became enriched because of the efforts taken by the intellectuals and enthusiast ruler. Education was' extended by the service of religious master of numerous mosques, maktabs and madrasas. Among them the Maktab-based education was the primary level education of Muslim education. Although going to Maktab at the age of four for primary education was usual the main practice of education began at the age of seven. The key lessons in the Maktab were about obeying the Quran and all religious instructions. Besides, reading, writing and general accountancy were taught. For the Hindu children there was opportunity for schooling in the Pathshala. Besides, the wealthy families arranged tutors at home for educating their children. In the higher level of Maktab, the biography of the darbish and the Pir-fakir and Persian poetry were taught. Saying the prayers and learning the religious practice was the least level of education in the Muslim era, which were mandatory for all the Muslim students.

Source:- banglapedia