HRD rejects US proposal to send Americans to teach English in madarsas

Updated on: Sunday, February 06, 2011

The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has rejected the US proposal of sending Americans to teach English in Indian madarsas.

The proposal — routed through ministry of external affairs —has been rejected on the ground that the government does not interfere in the functioning of madarsas.

HRD ministry itself offers a slew of incentives to madarsas, who volunteer to avail of it. “Our policy is of non-interference. Government of India does not play any proactive role and simply monitors educational schemes for Muslims through its minority cell,” a source said, adding that many madarsas already teach English.

HRD ministry has failed to evolve consensus among different schools of thought in Islam on the issue of setting up of a Central Madarsa Board. “The Board could have looked into English education. But since there was no consensus, the idea of Central Madarsa Board has been put on hold. HRD ministry maintains a policy of caution,” a source said.

India has about 7,000 registered madarsas, with more than 3.5 lakh students on its rolls. Another reason —though unstated —for turning down the US proposal is the fear of evoking a huge political outcry. “US is seen as an aggressor by Muslims. Any attempt to bring American teachers in madarsas would have been seen as an outright interference,” a source said.

It is also felt that Indian madarsas are different from what US has experienced in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Though enrolment of Muslim children in primary and upper primary level is on the rise, it is still way below the national average. Latest figures show that in 2009-10 only 13.48% of Muslim children are in primary (class I to V) and 11.89% are in upper primary sections. Of them, girls account for around 50% of enrolment.

HRD rejects US proposal to send Americans to teach English in madarsas

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