The Human Resour-ce Development (HRD) Ministry has sought special allocations in the 11th Plan to implement schemes to improve educational status of minorities, particularly the Muslims.

“Minority districts should be given special attention while setting up educational institutes,” said HRD Minister Arjun Singh in a meeting of the full Planning Commission chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Although minority education was not included in the agenda of the Plan Panel meeting on Thursday, the HRD minister said the 11th Plan should make sure that such districts are given special attention in higher and technical education.

“It would be better that specific allocations are made for implementing educational schemes for minorities under the recommendations given by the Fatmi Committee, which was appointed to look into the educational aspect of the Sachar Committee recommendations,” Arjun Singh said.

According to the Sachar Committee report, which quoted the 2001 Census, the literacy rate of Muslims was 59.1 per cent. This is far below the national average of 65.1 per cent.

Around 25 per cent of Muslim children in the 6-14 year age group have either never attended school or have dropped out. This is higher than other disadvantaged groups. Meanwhile, the UGC has proposed incentives for institutions with a higher number of students from such communities. The UGC also observed that an increase in the enrolment rate among these groups will help to boost the overall enrolment ratio.

The present 10 pc enrolment rate is low compared to 23 per cent of the world average. It is also lower than other developing countries with 55 pc enrolment rate. The Working Group on the Development of Education of Minorities for the 11th Plan has recommended that more minority districts should be identified so that children from such areas could get facilities under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The Working Group also suggested free hostel facilities, special coaching and scholarships to reduce dropout rate.