This fiscal, state to push 500 madrasas for modernisation

“In 1995 the Government received applications from 356 madrasas requesting recognition, out of which 56 were accepted. We will now re-examine the merit of the applications of the remaining 294 madrasas and whichever fits the bill will be granted recognition,” said Abdus Sattar, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education.

“Out of 500, 100 will be new set-ups with teachers recruited by the School Service Commission (SSC) and for the rest we will consider granting recognition to the old kharezi ones, provided the authorities are keen on upgradation. We have already received applications from 294 such madrasas and we will re-open their cases now,” he added.

He also said district-level committees have been formed to take up the cases. “The Director of Madrasa Education is now working out the terms of reference of these committees and they will be told to submit their reports by the end of next month,” Sattar said.

In fact, the Action Plan prepared by the state Government for the socio-economic and educational upliftment of the minority communities of West Bengal, has also stressed granting recognition to more madrasas.

Other recommendations of the Plan include, provision for more educational and infrastructural facilities in the form of more staff, new subjects, more classrooms, girls’ common rooms, furniture, drinking water facilities etc to madrasas with more than 1,000 students. “In addition steps will be taken for strengthening science laboratories and computer education and improvement of libraries,” the Action Plan read.

The Plan paper also mentions that while vocational training has already been introduced in 42 madrasas, it is necessary to introduce it in many more madrasas.