UP madrassa board bans co-education

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education (UPBME) has banned co-education in madrassas across the state, saying it is against the “spirit of Islam”.

“In Islam, parda (veil) is very important. By allowing co-education we promote ‘be-pardgi’ (women without veil), which is against Shariyat... This is why we have directed all the madrassas to do away with the co-education system from this academic session.

And we will ensure that this directive is followed in letter and spirit,” UPBME chairman Haji Rizawan Haq said.

He said a madraasa is an institution of learning, where Islamic studies, literature and philosophy are taught among others.

The avowed aim of madraasa education is to inculcate the belief and practice of Islam among its followers and guide them to follow Quran and the traditions of the Prophet. The education is basically standing on two pillars of Quran and Sunna (Tradition of Prophet Mohammad), he said.

Uttar Pradesh has more than 16,000 madrassas of which only over 1,900 are affiliated to the UPBME including 360 ‘wait for aid’ from the government. More than seven lakh students are enrolled in these madrassas (affiliated) for a number of courses like Maulvi and Munshi (equivalent to matriculation), Aalim (BA), Kamil and Fazil (MA).