[movlabz]

aaww,

Just from my own experience.
I missed out on reading most kitabs regarding massail because i joined the hifz class.After staying in madressa for approx ten years i came out with little knowledge about the fundamentals of Islam.
First and foremost i thank ALLAH SWT for guiding me via a couple of ways.

First was the knowledge i acquired from a copy of Bahisti Zewar that use to be in my front room.

Secondly it was by means of spending time in the path of ALLAH SWT with tabligh jamaat.Even after acquiring the masaail via Bahisti Zewar it was only when i was accepted for going out in tabligh that
i realised and understood ISLAM and my purpose in life.

I think that in most cases our madrassa churn out loads of students who can read arabic but in general not many come out with a true understanding of the basics as regards to ISLAM.
When i say basics i mean reading salah,being honest,having good manners,how to behave in masjid,avoiding interest.(a lot of these have also been mentioned by brother London 786)

I think everyone should spend some time in tabligh jamaat as part of the madrassa system to bring some practical ISLAM into their lives.

Also it is a duty for the parents to have worry and concern for their own children and not leave everything in the hands of the teachers.

Finally i think most of us do not read enough about ISLAM and therefore never really understand that this life is very short and time is ticking away.