Dear Farzana,

Happy to say that I did receive your email this evening but your points require careful thinking before I can respond, for which I would not have the time over the next few days. But I promise that I will be responding to your points, and others that have come in today, once I am finished with the immediate business that will be occupying me over the next three weeks. But for now I am signing off on this interesting set of exchanges.

Much flattered by your suggestion of interviewing me -- don't really know if I would have much to say on Madrassa issues in Pakistan. I did some work on early childhood education and care policies in many countries, including in Oman and Indonesia. For Pakistan I did a report for UNESCO on its secondary education that was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education before the Interim Government had taken over, I think about two years ago. Don't know whatever happened to that report. Right now I am reading a fascinating book about the philosophical foundations of education policy in Canada, in preparation of a book chpater I am doing trying to link education policy to development policy. I will be happy to share some of these ideas with you.

Looking forward to meeting you when I return to Toronto.

Best wishes,
Abrar