MADRASAHS IN THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN KAZAKHSTAN (19th–20th Centuries)

48 11

Abstract

This study examines the educational and enlightenment activities of madrasahs, which occupied an important place in the educational history of the Kazakhstan during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The research demonstrates that madrasahs were not merely institutions providing religious instruction; they also functioned as educational centers that contributed to the cultural, scientific, and intellectual development of society. The establishment, curricula, and social impact of numerous educational institutions, including the Ahmad Riza, Galia, Husayniya, Mamaniya, Ayagöz, Kapal, and Kaljan Akhun madrasahs, are analyzed. The examined sources indicate that, in addition to religious subjects such as the Qur’an, Hadith, and Aqidah, these institutions also taught history, geography, arithmetic, philosophy, languages, and literature. In particular, the influence of the Usul al-Jadid (New Method) educational movement led to the introduction of modern sciences in some madrasahs, reflecting the innovative character of their educational system. The study also highlights the role of madrasahs in promoting literacy among the Kazakh population, training teachers, and fostering the emergence of a national intelligentsia. As a result, it is argued that madrasahs should be regarded not only as religious institutions but also as significant agents of social modernization and cultural development in the educational history of the Turks of Kazakhstan.