New Delhi: In a filing before the Supreme Court of India, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has attacked the madrasa education system in the country saying “religious education is the foundation of Madrasa education and in the absence of fundamental education, Madrasas are depriving children from their fundamental right to education.”
Madrasas education is neither all-encompassing nor thorough: NCPCR
NCPCR has said that “Madrasas education is neither all-encompassing nor thorough. It isn’t helping children advance since it lacks so many crucial components of learning. The Madrasa’s are infringing on children’s fundamental right to a good education by failing to provide these basic requirements. Children are denied not only a suitable education but also a healthy atmosphere and improved opportunities for growth.”
Assailing Madrasa education system, the Commission further says that “all those children who are not in formal schooling system are deprived of their fundamental right to elementary education including the entitlements such as Midday Meal, uniform, trained teachers etc. and since Madrasas are exempted from the purview of the RTE Act, 2009, all children studying in the Madrasas are deprived of not only formal education in schools but also benefits as provided under RTE Act, 2009. Further, it is also humbly submitted that merely teaching a few NCERT Books in the curriculum is a mere guise in the name of imparting education and does not ensure that the children are receiving formal and quality education.”
NCPCR is a nodal body established by law and looks at protection of child rights
NCPCR is the nodal body established by law and looks at protection of child rights, including education and other related matters in the country.
This statement by NCPCR has been filed in the Supreme Court in a petition that challenges a Allahabad High Court judgment which in March this year declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education law of 2004 as unconstitutional and directed relocating of children studying in Madrasas to government run schools.
Madrasas are educational bodies run by by Islamic religious bodies and imparts education in Islamic history and culture, theology, and also general education.
Apex court needs to examine the issue of children studying in Madrasas: NCPCR
NCPCR in its filing has also said that the apex court needs to examine the issue of children studying in Madrasas, saying “in the interest of the children humbly submits that the education imparted to children in Madrasa is not comprehensive, and is therefore against the provisions of Right to Education Act, 2009.’
Adverting to Darul Uloom Deoband Madrasa founded in Deoband district Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the commission says that this madrasa teached an austere version of Islam, particularly along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and according to information available, it has also been alleged by Taliban extremists groups to have been influenced by the religious and political ideologies of Darul Uloom Deoband Madrasa.