IREX today announced Dr. Matthew Nelson as the 2004 recipient of the John J. and Nancy Lee Roberts Fellowship. Nelson, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Bates College, will examine the decisions for families in Pakistan, focusing on their efforts to strike a balance between religious and non-religious education across a wide range of public schools, private schools, and madrasas (religious academies).
Nelson noted that "the value attached to religious education for poor and middle-class families is often underestimated by those with an interest in 'demand-driven' educational reform. Even if we take the demand for religious education seriously, we still have a lot to learn about the extent to which it can be expected to promote peace rather than conflict."
Nelson explained that ultimately, his project aims to "move beyond questions about the extent to which religious education is in demand in Pakistan," focusing, instead, on "the type of religious education that could be expected to generate a broad base of sectarian, domestic, and international support."
In the context of his research, Nelson will interview parents from a variety of economic backgrounds throughout Pakistan in cooperation with Pakistan-based colleague Tariq Rahman of Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad.
Nelson received his AB in government from Bowdoin College and his MA, MPhil, and PhD in comparative politics and international relations from Columbia University. He has worked as a consultant for the Asia Foundation and the government of the United Kingdom and has given numerous presentations and invited lectures on education in Pakistan.
IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board) is an international nonprofit organization specializing in education, independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs. Through training, partnerships, education, research, and grant programs, IREX develops the capacity of individuals and institutions to contribute to their societies. Since its founding in 1968, IREX has supported over 15,000 students, scholars, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and other professionals.
The Roberts Fellowship supports cutting-edge research by annually providing one grant of up to $30,000. This year the program accepted applications for research in the field of education in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
