TOWARDS REVIVING THE ORIGINAL ISLAMIC SCHOOL: AN ANALYTICAL READING IN THE EXPERIENCE OF MOULOUD KASSEM KNIGHT BELGACEM

One of the most destructive effects of colonization of the Muslim world is the marginalization of Islamic learning institution (Madrasa) and its original approach to knowledge and learning. Unfortunately, after independence, Muslim countries did little to restore authentic Islamic learning and its institutions. However, some intellectual figures work hard to address the issue of Islamic learning and revive its role in shaping the new generation and the future of Muslim community. Perhaps, among these figures who deserve some attention the famous Algerian thinker Mouloud Kasim Nait Belkasim who devoted his life the Madrasa institution. This research is an attempt to explain the major guidelines of Belkasim’s integrated project of reform Algerian education system. This project includes reviving Islamic pedagogy, establishing public university, and the eradication of illiteracy. The researcher use both historical and analytical methodology which are more appropriate to address the questions of the research.  The later, concludes that the efforts of Belkasim were very effective in making positive change in history of Algerian education system regardless the challenges and obstacles it faces which most of them are created by political tendencies that adopt the colonial Francophonie ideology and culture. The research emphasizes on continuity of Belkasim’s educational reform for its effectiveness in solving many problems the Algerian education system is facing today.

Keywords: Madrasa, Islamic education, Algeria, colonialism, integrated education