Madrasahs in India
India is attempting an innovative approach to strengthen its madrasahs. As of this week, the National Monitoring Committee for Minorities' Education in India has recommended to the Central Government's Ministry of Human Resources Development to integrate the madrasahs in each State with the syllabus of respective State's government schools. The recommendation, part of a larger initiative to modernise the madrasahs, envisages that a government school, closer to a madrasah, will be given the responsibility of supplying the madrasah with textbooks in English, other languages, science, math. and social sciences. Teachers from the government schools will also conduct tests and examinations for the madrasah students. In explaining the rationale for this recommendation, the Minorities Commission reasoned this measure as a way to enable the madrasah students attain a larger world vision, as was indeed the original philosophy many decades back.
The Commission, however, views this integration step as an 'interim measure'. Ultimately, madrasahs are expected to be governed by a central madrasah board (/which is still not there in India/), which would function like India's Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).
Well, the Commission, aware of possible opposition to such reform measures, engaged with the Imams, key madrasahs across India, following which this recommendation emerged. The only apprehension that the madrasah management conveyed is increased government interference in matters concerning functioning of the madrasahs.
Otherwise, they all voiced their keenness about modernising the syllabus of madrasahs.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments