“Continued efforts should be made to modernise them (madrasas) through curricular reforms and provision of facilities (e.g. computers, labs, libraries). A fee-waiver could also be considered for madrasa students opting for examinations conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling,” an agenda by NITI Aayog said.
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, has recently suggested that fees should be waived for madrasa students opting for National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) exams.
The NITI Aayog while making this statement stressed on the need for “continued efforts” to modernise madrasa students to educationally empower the minority community.
Madrasa is an Arabic word for an institute that provides education, either religious or mainstream.
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Modernisation of madrasas:
On the modernisation of madrasas, the Aayog has recommended the government make “continued efforts” through curricular reforms and by providing facilities such as computers, labs, libraries, among others.
It has been seen that Muslims constitute the largest religious minority in the country and according to the agenda they are behind others in terms of economic, health and education parameters.
Here’s what Aayog said in the agenda:
“Continued efforts should be made to modernise them (madrasas) through curricular reforms and provision of facilities (eg computers, labs, libraries).
“A fee-waiver could also be considered for madrasa students opting for examinations conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling,” the Aayog said in the agenda as reported in a recent PTI report.
Further, the government think-tank said that there were a “large number of madrasas” in the country although the exact numbers are unclear.
Mid-day meal at madrasas:
The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has already announced its plans to offer mid-day meal at madrasas which impart mainstream education, including that of science.
Moreover, the ministry has planned to build toilets in one lakh madrasas to strengthen Swachh Bharat Mission.
About NIOS:
The NIOS, formerly known as National Open School (NOS), was established in 1989 as an autonomous body in pursuance of National Policy on Education 1986. It aims to provide relevant education up to pre-degree level through open and distance-learning system and cater to educational needs of the prioritised target groups.
[Source”CNBC”]
