JOIN USMadrasas with foreign teachers used for terror activities
Madrasas that have foreign teachers are more prone to be used for terrorism or radicalisation, a report submitted to the Home Ministry stated. The security agencies in its report also said the religious institutions with Indian teachers were not involved in jihad or indoctrination.
Sources said the Centre is now planning to conduct survey in states, which have borders with foreign countries to find out whether foreign nationals are deployed in madrasas, which are located in such areas.
The survey will be carried out in West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar initially.
The move has come against the backdrop of Bangladeshi nationals found employed in a madrasa in Burdwan, West Bengal. The module was detected when a blast occurred during bomb making by Bangladesh-based Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JuMD). In the report, the agencies have expressed their concern over madrasas, which have teachers of Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin.
“We are concerned that there may be many more foreign teachers who are still attached with madrasas claiming to be Indians with forged identity documents,” a Home Ministry official said.
These madrasas are mostly free for students who are not just given Islamic education but are also provided with free lodging and food, besides some cash to buy clothes if they are poor, the report said.
The agencies suggested that these madrasas be helped to incorporate modern curriculum to help their students in terms of employment prospects and life skills.
The report is also learnt to have said that the students cannot get employment as they do not have the required qualification. Urging for bringing in a change, the report cautioned that the danger of unemployment pushing people towards radicalisation would always remain an issue if it is not addressed.
Madrasas under government control teach both religious as well as regular curriculum but the majority of such institutions are unaided and focus on religious teaching and resist any other kind of education, the report stated.