Hindustan Times
Don’t take Muslims too seriously
There is a thing or two about the government’s approach towards Muslims that is worrisome. One of them is that the government sometimes takes Muslims too seriously!
Take for instance the UPA government’s somewhat anxious efforts to streamline madrassa education, a system of education which is not just largely informal but its curriculum is also often viewed as irrelevant.When they started off centuries ago, madrassas were crucial for education. They still are. In many of these, Hindus and Muslims study together.
But my question is, does the government consult Muslims whenever it intends to raise taxes? Did the government bother to discuss the community’s leaders before making a last-minute hike in Haj fares last week? No and rightly so.
Global fuel prices are going up. Air-India is bleeding. So a hike in Haj fares was just the right thing to do because it was simply unavoidable. And thank God, the government did not wait to consult the clerics, even though some people are not happy about having to pay more. (The timing is what most people are complaining, the hike having come at a time when most people were ready to fly out on the pilgrimage.) Sure, we always want things to stay cheap, from our potatoes to petrol prices.
If something is urgent and politically expedient, then the government just goes ahead and does it. So, why does the government want to consult Muslim leaders of all hues before setting up a much-needed Central Madrassa Education Board? This lack of decisiveness has harmed the community.
The second worrisome aspect of the government’s approach to Muslim affairs is its peddling of smartly-dressed package of only notional reforms as opposed to substantive reforms.
Arjun Singh, the previous education minister, had taken two key but cosmetic initiatives to mainstream the country’s madrassa education.
The minority education division of the Human Resource Development Ministry, which oversees education, during Singh’s tenure, had approved a recommendation that now makes madrassa certificates recognised by state madrassa boards equivalent to CBSE certificates for job purposes.
A madrassa certificate made equivalent to that of the CBSE may appear to be tempting enough, but in reality, this will only accentuate relative inequalities between the two systems of school education.
Let’s look at the pitfalls. A CBSE-equivalent certificate will now enable a madrassa student to apply for jobs and higher education, opening a whole new world for them. But think for a moment. While this may make them eligible to apply for jobs, it will not necessarily make them eligible to get the jobs. The need is to make these students go-getters, not just also-rans.
The government has recast its madrassa education programme, ‘Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrassas (2008-09)’, to “provide linkages with the National Institute of Open Schooling” with an allocation of Rs 325 crore, which may be taken up to Rs 625 crore.
However, unless followed up with “uniform curriculum” and “substantive reforms”, real benefits will continue to elude students of India’s 1 lakh-odd madrassas.
“Will this make these students capable of appreciating modern subjects?” asks Arshad Alam, religious education expert and sociologist at Jamia Millia Islamia.
A majority of India’s madrassas are azad madaris, ones that teach purely theological education and, most importantly, are privately funded. Those run by state madrasa boards teach a bit of modern subjects.
Clerics often argue that the number of Muslim students attending azad madaris is very small. They promptly quote the Sachar Committee’s finding that no more than just 4 per cent of Muslim children in the school-going age attend such institutions. So, their stand is, leave the kids alone.
One can understand the government shying away from interfering with the religious curriculum of these privately funded madrassas, but what keeps the government from being bullish about substantive reform in public-funded madrassas?
Many students from azad madaris appear as private candidates in publicly-funded madrassas and are usually passed. That is a common practice. But these students do not have a modicum of knowledge of any modern subject.
Standardisation of the madrassa curriculum is critical. An equivalent certificate could make students “eligible” to apply for jobs, but will not ensure they get the job in a competitive environment unless curriculum is modernised.
I started off this essay by saying that the government sometimes takes Muslims too seriously. And when you tend to take things more seriously, you make mountains out of mole hills. That is precisely why current minister for education, Kapil Sibal, has taken unsure steps to set up a Central Madrassa Education Board and set up a panel of community leaders to discuss its merits and demerits. This will only delay the process. My tip to the minister: go ahead and do it. The clerics will fall in line. We can have an ideal mix of religious and secular subjects.
(21 votes, average: 4.05 out of 5)
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at least the younger one, all of 5 years claims a 4 year old Muslim boyfriend!
(4.47 out of 5)
indian Reply:
October 25th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Are you joking buddy, closing down all madarsa and open “World class school”, How many world class school can u open by closing 1 lakh madarsa, may be just one. The budget of madarsa is peanuts and students from the lowest level of society attend these. and you suggest to make world class school for these pupil, where will you get the money, who will fund it where the people have no money to support their meals.
BTW what do you mean by world class school, have never seen any world class school in India. Or u mean the school with AC classess and AC buses
[Reply]
S Singh Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Yes,it will be expensive. May be a two step process- convert them to standard government schools with the normal syllabi; with select few as world class schools..
Looks like you have your tongue in cheek when you say there are no world class cshools in India. We have quite alot of good schools, colleges, technical institutes, reserach centers, medical institutes. Obviously we need more.
Muslim Educational Society in the South, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chinmaya Mission, Catholic Sisters etc in the private sector and Centarl Schools Board all have good schools.
Madrasas stand as a symbol of separation, backwardness, ignorance, illiteracy; and to some (non-Muslims) a symbol of fear and as a pottential terrorist breeding center. Shutting these down, I think, will facilitate the mainstreaming as well as furthering education.
[Reply]
S Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hi S Singh,
Religious education is important……so madarsaas will continue no matter what.The point is just as Children from other religion learn about their religion ,muslim students also learn about islam , Arabic. They are providing a service…& till requirement for that service is their they will work.
Second many children are at madarsaas because their parents can not afford to feed them….they send them to madarsaas so their children can learn something & may become an Imama or something also they are taken care off.
Second if Gov. really provided schools, even nominal schools….& education which can be used for earning a living…children will automatically go to those schools.
Even if i go to a normal public school, as a muslim i should have knowledge of Arabic(Quran) & Islam. So they have a pourpose…….
There will be many parents who want their children to become an Imam(Like Pandit), or Hafiz(who has memorized the whole Quran). Who are we to decide for them?????
I also know someone who is going to school in India’s best scool in Delhi….but who is also going to a madrsaa to become an Hafiz(Who has memorized the Quran).Is their any thing wrong with that………..
And about Madarssa standing as a symbol……………..It’s a symbol for those who see it as a symbol…..i really can not help in it any way.
Madarsaa is an Arabic word for School
S Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
“Our syllabus is similar to the secondary level syllabus… only 200 marks for Arabic are extra. So I think there is no problem in admitting (non-Muslim) children to our Madrassa,” said Sohrab Hussain, the President of the West Bengal Board of Madrassa Education.
A non-Muslim teacher at the Madrassa said all students are being treated equally.
“There is no differentiation between Hindus and Muslims. We walk, talk, eat and sit together. Everyone stays in harmony,” said Rupashi Biswas, a student of the Arizillapur Siddiquia High Madrassa.
Madrassas in West Bengal are trying to become secular and are also providing vocational training to students.
Madrasas in West Bengal are attracting an increasing number of Hindu students with the shift in focus from Islamist education to science and technology. Hindu students now outnumber Muslims in four madrasas of the state.These include Kasba MM High Madrasa in Uttar Dinajpur district, Ekmukha Safiabad High Madrasa in Cooch Behar district, Orgram Chatuspalli High Madrasa at Burdwan district and Chandrakona Islamia High Madrasa at West Midnapore district.
“The percentage of Hindu students vary from 57 percent to 64 percent in these institutes, which stand out as proof that madrasas (Islamic seminaries) and secularism are not anachronistic,” West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education president Sohrab Hussain told IANS here Monday.
He said 618 out of the 1,077 students in Kasba, 554 out of 868 students at Orgram, 201 out of 312 at Chandrakona and 290 out of total 480 students at Ekmukha are Hindus.
“Muslims are a minority in all these districts,” Hussain said.
Denying that madrasas impart only Islamist education, he said the institutes lay more stress on modern subjects.
“It’s a misconception that our students only learn Islam-related subjects at madrasas. Time is changing and so are we. Now, we lay more stress on science and technology than religion.
“Already 42 madrasas have computer laboratories; we will increase the number by another 100 labs in 2009. Over 100 madrasas offer vocational training in not only tailoring but even mobile applications technology,” Hussain said.
He said an increasing number of Hindu students were choosing madrasas over other schools because madrasas had more credibility.
“Madrasas have been successful in winning the confidence of students and guardians. Mostly first generation learners from backward classes come to study here as they know they won’t be looked down upon. Besides, madrasa certificates are at par with other national-level examinations,” said Hussain.
There are 506 madrasas in West Bengal and 52 more will come up by the end of 2009. Overall, 17 percent of the students and 11 percent of the teachers in these institutions are non-Muslims.
“All students are treated equally… there is no religious bias in the madrasas. Even the syllabus of the madrasas are no different from the Madhyamik – the state secondary examinations.
“The only difference is our students have to sit for a 100-mark extra paper on Arabic and Islamic studies, which in a way is good for Hindu students too. They can learn a new language at the same time,” Hussain said.
Golum Mustafa, headmaster of Kasba madrasa, said all students study and play together irrespective of their religion.
“If anyone asks me why Hindu students study at madrasas, I ask them, ‘Why not?’ Be it school or madrasa – they are meant for imparting education. There are many Hindu students who passed out from Kasba and are well-established in life,” Mustafa said on phone.
Bibhas Chandra Ghorui, a Hindu assistant teacher at Chandrakona, echoed Mustafa.
“There are seven schools within one km of this madrasa. But still people send their wards here, mostly because of affordability. One has to pay Rs.375 at general schools while the fees at the madrasa is only Rs.110.
“As for religious tolerance, if a Muslim student can study Baishnav Padavali – a Hindu religious hymns – then why can’t a Hindu student study Islam or Arabic?” Ghorui said on phone.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said the Government wants Madrassa institutions should impart professional training along with religious teachings for Muslim youths’ empowerment.
Sibal, however, has also stated that that the ministry would not interfere with the religious teachings in madrassas.
“It will be part of the 100-day agenda. When I talk about restructuring education, we will not interfere with the religious teaching in madrassas. But at the same time, the aim will be to empower Muslim youth,” Sibal said.
According to Sibal, the objective is to ensure that when Muslim youth come out of schools, they get job opportunities. “We will ensure that they have skills and they are equipped with the kind of education that enables them to be part of the mainstream.”
The Government has already decided to value madrassa qualification at par with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to enable Muslim students to get Central government jobs.
However, this benefit will be available for those madrassas that are affiliated to the State madrassa boards existing in 10 States.
Abdul Khaleeq Madrasi, pro-vice chancellor of the prestigious (what is prestigious about it?)) Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband town of western Uttar Pradesh, is opposed to such reforms.
“Why is he (Sibal) trying to interfere in the education pattern of the madrassas? We will not support such a proposal,” Madrasi told IANS.
Madrasi maintains that only one percent of Muslim children in India study in seminaries and after the education is over they are able to get reasonable jobs. He feels that instead of “interfering” in the education pattern of the madrassas the “government should try to establish more schools for the community”.
Tahir Alam, a teacher at the Mazahir Uloom madrassa in Amroha city of Uttar Pradesh, says madrassas are meant for religious education and “introducing such reforms will kill the very purpose of madrassas”.
Welcoming Sibal’s proposal is Arshad Alam, assistant professor at the centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia university here. However, he feels that modern education would “add to the burden of already overburdened madrassa students”.
Alam, who has done his PhD on Indian madrassas, has given a call for an extensive debate on the issue. He said: “Reforms like this should be widely debated within the Muslim community, particularly involving the Ulama (religious leaders).”
According to Alam, the best way to increase employment opportunities for Muslims would be to set up more government schools and vocational institutions in Muslim areas rather than concentrate on madrassas where only a fraction of Muslims study.
Imtiaz Alam, a teacher in the Maualan Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad and a product of a madrassa in Lucknow, has also welcomed it. He said the step “will help to bring the madrassa student to the mainstream”.
Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan termed it as “good news”.
“This will change the future of Muslim children. Earlier too there were attempts to introduce such reforms, but I fail to understand the reasons for the opposition by the madrassa authorities,” Khan told IANS.
Mufti Mohammad Yasin, a government school teacher in Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh, said it would help bring in modern education to the seminaries. “Since this is an era of modern technology, modern education is necessary alongside religious education and such reforms will be of great help.”
According to a senior official in the HRD ministry, Sibal is “determined” to introduce reforms in the madrassas.
Madrassas in India are mostly run with donations from the Muslim community, although some receive foreign donations as well.
There is no exact survey on the number of madrassas in the country. However, renowned columnist Yoginder Sikand in his book, “Bastion of the Believers: Madrassas and Islamic Education in India”, has put the figures at 30,000-40,000. This is around the figure put out by a survey conducted by the Hamdard Education Foundation.
A few madrassas are also affiliated to state governments like in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Assam. These madrassas draw salaries and collect grants from their respective governments. More than 90 percent of the seminaries are run by the funds collected from Muslims.
The Quran and Islamic law form the basic component of the education imparted at madrassas, though some provide modern education as well. Passouts from the seminaries get jobs in accordance with the degree they obtain. Mostly the products of madrassas get the job of an imam in a mosque, earning a meagre salary of Rs.3,000-3,500.
Link From where this article has been taken………..
http://palashkatha.mywebdunia.com/2009/10/12/marxist_way_of_branding_madrasa_terror_hubs_isolating_sc_students_and_hatching_eggs_of_communalism_as_six_education_reform_bills_in_pipeline_sibal_to_reform_madrasa_1255287060001.html
[Reply]
Anil Kumar Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I have read success story of one medersah here and there but fact is overwhelming number of them contribute nothign to manistream education and employability of their talibs..
Ashish Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Hmmm… interesting guy, Palash Biswas. He thinks the Dalai Lama is a CIA- Mossad agent .. for starters…
S Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Hi,
i also don’t agree with all his stuff….i came across his article on Google…thought it might shine some light on the topic we are discussing.
Amogh Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Hi,
I guess Madarsaahs will go away with the time may be 10 or 15 years as India’s economic develpment increases and reaches to Rural india. Its already showing.. The study shows .. Muslims which are slightly better of poorest ( but still poor) .. are opting for Jindi medium scholls than Urdu medium simply becuase greater propects of job and integrating with the masses. I have so many muslim friends & I completed my education in 6 different cities in India and I never came acorss a muslim guy who is madarssah educated.. My Mumbai muslim friends even don’t know .. where are such schools ? their family always insisted normal main stream schooling and this is penetrating in India.. Today Mumbai municipal schools have urdu medium .. nobody takes it ,, I found out personally.