Masooda Bano (Oxford, ODID)

Title:  Education and Aspirations: Evidence from Islamic and state schools in Pakistan and Nigeria

Abstract:   Drawing on survey and ethnographic data from Islamic and state schools in Pakistan and Nigeria, this paper questions assumed effect of attendance in Islamic schools on students’ levels of religiosity and aspirations. On both these counts, students from both the groups show broadly similar results. Modern-school girls in Pakistan do record a higher willingness to pursue a professional career. However, urban background, increased exposure to television, and more educated mothers appear more likely explanations for this difference than school effect. The Nigerian data supports this analysis. The findings suggest that increasing employment opportunities, access to media, and supporting female role models can make more Muslim females aspire for formal employment than interventions targeted at reforming Islamic norms.