Aimed to improve Muslim education, NCPCR engages with madarsas
Under the initiative of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, more than 500 madarsas have been engaged across the country.
In Short
- Over 500 madarsas covered under NCPCR consultations
- Initiative exercised aimed at improving Muslim education
- 42 % Muslim children in the go for higher studies
A series of consultations initiated by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has initiated a massive exercise of introspection on the state of Muslim basic educational institutions much known as madarsas of the country.
The NCPCR, which as per the provisions of CPCR Act 2005 is mandated to delve into issues pertaining to children education has been holding consultations in this regard in Delhi, Ranchi, Kaddapa, Bhopal and Nagpur. More than 500 madarsas and thousands of madarsa- going children have been covered under this exercise.
Talking about the initiative, NCPCR member Priyank Kanoongo said, "During the consultations, there was a consensus over coming up with more madarsa boards and a need to introspect over slow progress of Muslim educational institutions when compared to other religious educational institutions. The need to impart both religious and modern education to madarsa going children was also discussed."
Muslims though constitute a major component of minority community in India but their state of education has not been up to the mark. Over the last seventy years, the government's policy regarding Muslim education has been seen as a whole part of minority community, which includes Christians, Jains, Budhists and other communities also.
However, there is a view that the problems faced by Muslim community as far as education is concerned is unique and should be dealt with differently. Education to Muslim children is largely imparted through madarsas and maktabas, which requires a different approach altogether.
EDUCATION FOR ALL
As per a survey on higher studies conducted in 2015, though Muslims constitute a sizeable population, merely 42 per cent children in the community go for higher studies. Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and other communities have far greater representation in higher studies though their composition to overall population is less.
According to Article 21 of Constitution, there is a provision for education for all children, however, Muslim madarsas are not entitled to benefits under the Right to Education Act. Therefore, they cannot avail free uniforms, school bags and books and modern education due to this exclusion.
The NCPCR exercise is basically aimed at finding a mid way, which will ensure that the madarsa children get both religious and modern education within the institutions. Interestingly even BJP manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha elections had promised modernisation of madarsas in the country.
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