Madrasas surveyed for education scheme

Govt wants to link them with open schooling

Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) has started a survey of over 500 madrasas in the city which will be taken into consideration while implementing modern education in Madrasas scheme of the government.

“We have roped in an NGO, Operational Research Development Services (ORDS) which has just started the survey. The infrastructural conditions, education facilities provided right now, area where the madrasa is located, total strength of students and annual expenditure are included in the survey,” said Safdar H Khan, chairman, DMC.

A National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education, constituted in 2004, suggested that madrasas be provided a link with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to add subjects like Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Hindi and English in their curriculum.
The students can get access to opportunities in higher education and better job prospects.

“The survey will be concentrating on madrasas where the strength of students is high. There are also small madrasas with 20 to 25 students studying in them, then instances of teaching a small group of students at home is not to be included,” said an official.

An amount of Rs 325 crore is proposed for the scheme as per budget provision by the Planning Commission in the 10th Five-Year Plan.

Scheme from class 1

The modern education curriculum will be offered to students from class 1 to 11.

“There are some madrasas which are opposing any kind of modernisation. However, majority of them are willing to incorporate modern subjects in addition to the traditional teachings. The modernisation of the madrasas will be voluntary,” added the official.

According to Khan, the NGO is expected to be submit the report to DMC in next two-three months.