Islamic Education in the Turkestan Governorate-Generalship: Features of Development in an Interconfessional Environment

The article delves into the development of the education system in Turkestan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in context of the region’s integration into the Russian Empire. It focuses on the establishment of the Education Department in 1875, which was tasked with organizing schools for Russian settlers and overseeing local Muslim educational institutions. The analysis highlights the challenges of implementing Russian-language instruction and secular curricula into predominantly Muslim communities, where traditional madrasas and maktabs operated in Arabic script and emphasized religious teaching. The article discusses governmental efforts to regulate and expand educational facilities, including the establishment of inspectorates for public schools, legislative initiatives, and plans to enhance teacher training and salaries. Furthermore, it also considers the complex dynamics between imperial authorities and local populations, emphasizing concerns over cultural preservation and religious identity. Policies aiming to integrate Muslim students into a broader imperial educational framework often conflicted with traditional practices, leading to resistance and tensions. The study underscores the importance of balancing state interests with regional cultural realities, highlighting how education served as a tool for both modernization and control. Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving educational landscape in Turkestan during this period, illustrating how imperial policies shaped local educational practices while attempting to foster loyalty and social cohesion within a diverse region.