Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususuha wa Tatbiqatuha

Manahij al-Tarbiyya: Ususuha wa-Tatbiqatuha (Educational Curricula: Foundations and Applications) is a pedagogical treatise by the Egyptian educator Ali Ahmad Madkur, published by Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi in Cairo as part of its series on education and psychology (Silsilat al-Maraji' fi al-Tarbiyya wa-'Ilm al-Nafs) Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1. The work presents a comprehensive framework for curriculum design, grounding educational theory and practice in an Islamic worldview while addressing contemporary pedagogical principles Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.

Purpose and Scope

Madkur situates the text within a critique of prevailing educational reforms that address superficial symptoms—such as rote memorization, deteriorating school buildings, and private tutoring—without addressing the foundational social and educational philosophy that guides schooling Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1. He argues that educational philosophy must stem from a coherent conception of God, humanity, the universe, and life, which in turn determines the goals, content, methods, and evaluation mechanisms of curriculum design Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.

The book identifies three levels of study and understanding that curriculum developers must engage:

1. The level of foundational Islamic sources (the Qur'an and the Sunnah), representing the universal, divine, and unchanging principles Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu….
2. The level of Islamic heritage, comprising historical scholarly contributions across various disciplines, which must be evaluated according to foundational values and modern scientific developments that do not contradict Islamic tenets Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu….
3. The level of general human heritage, where beneficial global ideas and knowledge are examined and utilized in harmony with Islamic standards Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu….

Structure and Contents

The treatise is arranged into nine chapters:

• Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Educational Curricula — Differentiates between a comprehensive curriculum (manhaj) and a instructional program or syllabus (barnamaj), and examines the relationship between educational curricula, religion, philosophy, and educational theories Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.
• Chapter 2: Foundations of Educational Curricula — Analyzes the nature and sources of knowledge, stressing practical application as the objective of knowledge and its role in guiding humanity Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu….
• Chapter 3: Human Nature — Explores the primordial human disposition (fitrah), human components, distinctions between Islamic and Western psychological models, learning-driven development, and the curriculum's responsibilities toward human nature Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu….
• Chapter 4: The Nature of Life and Society — Discusses societal components, adult education, concepts of justice in public institutions, leadership, and curriculum alignment with social realities Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.
• Chapter 5: Curriculum Objectives — Outlines criteria for establishing educational goals, the dynamics of change, sources of knowledge reception, and balancing the rights and duties of the individual and society Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.
• Chapter 6: Curriculum Contents — Addresses content selection, organizing principles, typologies of educational material, and tailored curricular approaches for male and female learners Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.
• Chapter 7: Teaching Methods and Styles — Examines instructional stages, the educator's role, educational media and instructional aids, and individualized learning Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.
• Chapter 8: Methods and Modes of Evaluation — Defines evaluation concepts, foundations, levels, achievement tests, as well as norm-referenced and criterion-referenced testing Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu….
• Chapter 9: Curriculum Development — Details the distinctions between pedagogical modification, change, and systemic development, examining obstacles to reform and the structured stages required for curriculum development Manahij al-Tarbiyya Ususu…+1.