Maktab

Maktab (Arabic:مكتب‎) or Maktabeh (Arabic:مكتبة‎) or Maktabkhaneh (Persian:مکتبخانه‎‎) (other transliterations include makteb, mekteb, mektep, meqteb, maqtab), also called a Kuttab (Arabic:الكتَّاب‎ Kottāb) “school” is an Arabic word meaning elementary schools. Though it was primarily used for teaching children in reading, writing, grammar and Islamic studies such as Qira'at (Quranic recitation), other practical and theoretical subjects were also often taught. Until the 20th century, maktabs were the only means of mass education in much of the Islamic world.