Islamic education in Cotabato city, the Philippines

Quality Islamic education is crucial for the advancement and progress of every Muslim society, including the Bangsamoros of Southern Philippines. This study aims to explore the state of Islamic education of the Muslims in Cotabato City, the Philippines. It focuses on the review of the history of Islamic education and the education of Muslim Filipinos now known collectively as the Bangsamoro (the Moro nation). In addition, it identifies the existing Islamic educational institutions that cater to the educational needs of Muslim youths in Cotabato City such as the traditional madaris and integrated madaris. It evaluates the similarities and differences of traditional madaris and integrated madaris, their educational systems, and their position in the socio-cultural dimension of the Bangsamoro society. This study uses a qualitative method of research. Data were collected through library research and in-depth interview with teachers and administrators of these educational institutions. The researcher had found out that since the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in 2018, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been replaced by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Since the establishment of BARMM, various changes have occurred. Cotabato City has become the center of the Bangsamoro government (BARMM), and the majority of the madrasah is in this city. This thesis contributes to the ongoing debate about madrasah and madrasah integration in different parts of the world, by exploring and discussing traditional and integrated madrasah in the Philippines.