Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

Religion Magazine programs have been dedicated to discussions with Muslim scholars and
experts on Islam, the role of women, sectarian differences within Islam, and interfaith dialogues
with religious figures.
BASIC EDUCATION IN MUSLIM MAJORITY COUNTRIES
In 2012, USAID’s contributed US $654,500,000 to basic education in Muslim majority
countries. Approximate amounts for each region were:
ASIA
USAID/Asia Bureau: US $363 million; approximately US $320 million of this sum was
allocated to predominantly Muslim countries or Muslim majority populations within a
country. Countries included Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines
(Mindanao), and Tajikistan.
USAID/Middle East Bureau: US $153 million for Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
Morocco, Yemen, and the West Bank and Gaza.
USAID/Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs: US $105 million.
USAID/Europe and Eurasia Bureau: Education assistance for Kosovo totaled US
$1,510,000.
USAID/Africa Bureau: US $272 million; US $75 million was used for Muslim
populations in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, and Tanzania,
and on regional programs in several other countries.
Bangladesh. USAID focused on early childhood development to improve enrollment, retention,
and performance in primary schools. The Promoting Talent through Early Education Program
developed a pre-school curriculum and increased learning skills and access to educational
opportunities for 39,710 preschoolers. Over 2,800 primary school teachers were trained in
interactive teaching methodologies that included health, nutrition, and sanitation components. In
addition to teacher training, the program trained school administrators to ensure that curriculum
and teaching improvements were institutionalized. The US $8.3 million Bangladeshi version of
Sesame Street was the most widely viewed children’s television show in the country, reaching
over 10 million Bangladeshi children weekly.
India. While not a Muslim majority country, India has a large Muslim population. USAID’s
basic education activities helped provide quality education to disadvantaged children including
Muslim minorities and promoted the use of technology to improve teaching and learning in the
classroom and interventions that link education to employment. The Madrassa Education
Program came to a close in 2012 and helped enroll over 51,000 disadvantaged students. More
than 200 teachers and 110 administrators were trained in modern pedagogic concepts and
effective teaching methods resulting in madrassa leaders assuming new roles in education for
youth, particularly girls. A noteworthy achievement has been the mobilization of community
support groups and volunteers through training, resulting in formal communication channels
being institutionalized between parents and madrassas. In addition, USAID/India’s Youth Skill
Development Initiative provided education in basic life and employability skills to deprived outof-school
youth, such as computer usage, spoken English, and customer relations. Over 38,000
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