Challenges and issues of contemporary Sri Lankan Muslim education with special reference to Amparai district Muslim education

Abstract

This research article deals with the brief history of Muslim education of Sri Lanka, Challenges and issues in the path of education. The special focus will be in Muslim education of Ampara district. One of the Principal reasons for the success of Islam in the earlier centuries was its emphasis on the moral and Socio- Economic uplift of human beings. Education was considered to be of crucial importance in the realization of this objective. The Muslims of Sri Lanka are the second largest minority in the Island next to the Tamils constitute eight percent of the Island's population, numbering over one million people. Over the past generations, the Muslims of Sri Lanka had not evinced that degree of interest in educational matters as have other sections of the populations, with the result that much has to be done in this Held. There were indeed notable individual exceptions but in general the Muslims of Sri Lanka did not take kindly in education until recent times. There was, it is evident, some interest in education among the Muslims of Sri Lanka but their enthusiasm did not take material shape. However, it has been noted some interests for the development of the Muslim Educational reform in recent times by some expects in the field. But, there have some challenges and issues to be faced by Sri Lankan Muslims and to win. The Ampara district is where Muslims are living as a majority community with other two communities. The Muslim educational institutes of this district have contributed for the progress of Sri Lankan Muslims education in a major level. The South Eastern University of Sri Lanka has been established in this region with majority Muslims students. This research has been conducted by descriptive method of study and will use the published literary sources from primary to secondary sources such as questionnaires survey, informant interview, group discussion, official records from divisional Secretariat, Educations Departments, previously conducted studies, publications, reports and other relevant documents. The aim and objective of this paper is to identify certain challenges and issues in the education arena of Sri Lankan Muslims. This paper also will try specially, to analyze such issues of Ampara district Muslims in detail. The recommendations and suggestions in issues of Muslim education have been put forward in this research