National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions chairman Justice M.S.A. Siddiqui submitted his report on modernisation of madrasa education and formation of a central madrasa board to Union Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh in the Capital on April 21.
This Commission was created in November 2004 with the issuance of a Government Order, and started functioning since February 2005.
Educational backwardness of Muslims was brought to the notice of the Commission by the various sources, and the Commission realised it as a very alarming issue which requires special corrective measures.
Besides modernising and improving the educational system prevalent in madrasas, targeting Muslim concentration areas for educational empowerment of the community is a very difficult but important measure to be taken in this regard, Justice Siddiqui said.
To effect coordination in education system and its categorisation as well as comprehensive development, the Commission has recommended the formation of a central madrasa board by enacting a law in Parliament and bringing it to the national mainstream.
The Commission held discussions on the subject with educationists, Muslim Ulema and distinguished authorities on madrasa education before reaching the conclusion.
While most of the educationists and Ulema who interacted with the Commission agreed to the idea of introducing modern subjects to madrasa education, they stressed the point that the basic structure and objectives of madrasas must not be diluted.