The prevailing state of Muslim education in India needs to be upgraded to match the requirements of a competitive job market, according to a prominent Muslim body.
The prevailing state of Muslim education in India needs to be upgraded to match the requirements of a competitive job market, according to a prominent Muslim body.
"It hurts when you see an educated Muslim, who has studied for more than 14 years at Daru-ul-Uloom Deoband, does not know how to fill an immigration form. What is the use, if after studying for so many years, you are still dependent on others," Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, president, All Idia Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM), which claims to represent half a million Imams of India, told PTI.
Maintaining that there is a need for modern education to bring change in Muslims, he says," There are more than 3,50,000 Madarsas in India who teach about Din (religion). But after passing out, the students are left with no career opportunities except becoming Ulemas or Imams. Madarsa education should improve to match the competitive job market."
The organisation recently presented HRD minister with a charter of demands for improving the state of education among Muslims. These include a master plan to encourage education of the girl child and ensuring a role for Muslims in policy making, implementation and enforcement by the ministry.
"The HRD minister has decided to form a committee which will look after all the reforms needed in the upliftment of Madarsa education in the country," claims Ilyasi.
Showing a moderate face of Islam, this umbrella body of Imams is ready to take on the sections which stop Muslims from socio-economic transformation.
"We want every girl child to go to schools, be it convent, public or private. I know many Muslim organisations will oppose this, but AIOIM is determined to take this step forward," says Ilayasi.
Calling for an infrastructural development in every Madarsa, Ilayasi says that corporates are eager to contribute in the development of Muslim education.
"We have initiated the programme. Educomp has come up with a concept of digital black board, which will keep Madarsas updated with the technological changes in education," he says.
AIOIM has recently organised the first-ever national education conference on the 'Role of Ulemas in Educational Upliftment of Indian Muslims', that saw unanimity among the participants that only through education Muslims can contribute in the development of the community as well as the country.
"Very soon we will launch All India youth programme, where more than one lakh Imams will be subjected to the need of modern education in Madarsas," says Ilayasi.
Hailing Indian government for not forming a Madarsa board, he says, "Mr Sibal has told us that they will not form a board and do not intend to control the Muslim education and are ready for reforms."
The demands of AIOIM includes minority status for Jamia Milia Islamia, special scheme for education of Muslim girls and steps for upgrading science education in Madarsas, including a government scheme for providing maths and science teachers to such institutions.
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