BENGALURU: Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh has directed officials to verify whether children going to madrasas are getting education as per the Right to Education Act The minister held a meeting with department officials to discuss the constitution of the Madrasa Education Board on Wednesday.
“Children who go to madrasas are not getting formal education. The parents demanded that teaching should be made available, mainly in mathematics and science. Thus, the first meeting was held to review the system of education imparted in madrasas,” the minister added.
Nagesh said that there is no clear information about the extent of education that the students are getting in madrasas. So, it is necessary to know the nature of education being imparted.
“After receiving religious education in madrasas, there is a rule that students must also attend nearby schools for formal education in science and mathematics. However, there is no clear and accurate information about the extent to which the students from madrasas are also getting a formal education,” the minister said.
He also said that parents were demanding that mathematics and science be taught in madrasas. Hence, officials have been instructed to visit madrasas and conduct an inspection.
“Children who go to madrasas are not getting any formal education. Even the parents were demanding that mathematics and science should be included in teachings. So, we had the first meeting to review this system of education, imparted in madrasas. Are students getting education as per the Right to Education Act — in aided, unaided and private madrasas? Otherwise, what kind of education is being imparted?” asked Nagesh.
The minister said that they have received complaints regarding non-cooperation from the madrasa managements. It is the government’s wish to provide quality education to the children, he stressed.
“The department has received complaints, that madrasas do not cooperate when Education Department officials go there for inspection. Therefore, the officers have been instructed to visit some madrasas, conduct an inspection and file a report. After getting the status report, a meeting will be held with the madrasa managements and the education experts,” he said.
The August 24 meeting was held at the Integrated Education-Karnataka office. Dr S Sevakumar, Principal Secretary to the School Education and Literacy Department, R Ramachandran, Director of the Under-graduate Education Department and other officers were present. (ANI)