Evaluating Public Policy within a Framework: The Case of Madrassa Reforms in General Zia Era (1977-1988)

Abstract

This study evaluates madrassa reforms policies introduced during General Zia-ul-Haq regime within a policy evaluation framework. Generally it is quite difficult to find whether any specific public policy has fallen short of achieving conceived goals. However, on the basis of some of the impacts enlisted for appraisal of any policy process by the National Audit Office of the UK, policies can be evaluated.  According to the frame work, if policies result in poor quality public services, deliver little or no benefits, exclude a section of society from benefits, do not meet expectations of the stakeholders and bring in adverse social and/or environmental consequences, then policies are hardly regarded as successful policies. In fact during the Zia-ul-Haq era, the state-led projects of reforming madrassa under the umbrella of Islamization did not become productive for the madrassa students and graduates and at a broader level for the society. Only the state and few of the renowned figures of madrassas remained real beneficiaries of madrassa reforms. In the light of impacts of poor policy process enlisted by National Audit Office of the UK, the study concludes that the state-led madrassa reforms in General Zia era brought poor quality services, delivered very little services and that too for a limited section of society. Moreover, the policy of reforming madrassa in the addressed era brought adverse social consequences and henceforth did not meet expectations of all stakeholders specifically madrassa graduates and students.