news details |
|
|
| Madrassas are different from Maktabs | | Govt-sponsored study portrays pro-Muslim picture | | B L KAK
NEW DELHI, DEC 5
A government-sponsored study has termed as baseless the popular perception that religious seminaries, universally known as madrassas, attract many Indian Muslims. Just three per cent of the Muslim community's children study in madrassas, the study has pronounced.
The study has also pronounced that the Muslim community has not been projected in a right way. It has quoted figures from the NCAER (National Council for Applied Economic Research) in support of its finding that only four per cent of all Muslim students of the school going age group are enrolled in madrassas. The study has come to the conlusion that the number of madrassa atending students is much less than commonly believed.
Former Chief Justice of the Delhi Court, Rajinder Sachar, who was commissioned by the government to conduct a detailed investigation in relation to the Indian Muslims, has pointed out in his report that while it is often believed that a large proportion of Muslim children study in madrassas mostly to learn the religous discourse and to ensure the continuation of Islamic culture and life, a persistent belief nurtured, in the absence of statistical data and evidence, is that "Muslimparents have apreference for religious education leading to dependence on madrassas".
The report upholds the NCAER data, which, according to it, "is supported by estimates made from school level NCERT (National Council for Educational Research and Training) data, which indicates a somewhat lower level of 2.3 per cent of Muslim children aged 7-19 years who study in madrasas". The report has admitted that the proportions "are higher in rural areas and among males".
Justice Rajinder Sachar's report says that it is also srgued that education in madrassas "often encourages religous fundamentalism and creates a sense of alienation from the mainstream". This is not backed by facts, the report insists. According to the report, one reason for the misconception is that people do not distinguish between madrassas and maktabs.
The study has explained that while madrassas provide education (religious and/or regular), maktabs are neighbourhood schols, often attached to mosques, that provide religous education to children who atend other schools to get "mainstream" education. The conclusion drawn by the Sachar committee: Thus maktabs provide part time religous education and are complementary to the formal educational institutions.
Yet another conlusion: Since private and government-aided schools do not teach Urdu adequately, children have to be taught to read the scriptures at home. Some children are taught to read the Holy Quran by their parents, relatives or by private tutors. In many cases, especially in low and medium income families, parents do not have the time or ability to teach their children themselves. Micro level studies show that such parents admit their children to maktabs, in addition to secular schools. In such cases, the children study in two schools. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
