Madarsas to impart skill trainining through e-learning

HI-TECH EDUCATION Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, to establish e-learning centres in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: Limited to imparting only religious education, madarsas in Uttar Pradesh appear to be turning over a new leaf. They have decided to impart modern education and skill development programmes by going hi-tech. While the skill development programme is being run by Maulana National Academy for Skills (MANAS), PM Narendra Modi’s close aide Zafar Sareshwala plans to impart modern education to them through satellite link.

Limited to imparting only religious education, madarsas in Uttar Pradesh appear to be turning over a new leaf. They have decided to impart modern education and skill development programmes by going hi-tech.

While the skill development programme is being run by Maulana National Academy for Skills (MANAS), Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close aide Zafar Sareshwala plans to impart modern education to them through satellite link.

Sareshwala, who is chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad, intends to increase the university’s footprint by establishing e-learning centres in UP with financial assistance of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). Of the 10 madarsas handpicked by him from across the country for the pilot project, three are from UP.

“This is just the beginning. We intend to increase our reach to other parts very soon,” says Mohsin Raza Khan, Sareshwala’s points-person in UP and a lecturer in King Khalid University at Abha in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arab would act as a knowledge partner in this literacy initiative by providing online courses to the students.

Sareshwala himself is presently on a visit to Gulf countries and hence was not available for comments. “He has already made several visits to UP and was recently in Moradabad to scout for land to set up these educational centres,” said Khan.

Apart from usual subjects like Urdu, Arabic, English, the online courses are likely to include new and innovative streams like Islamic finance, ‘halal’ food certification etc.

The project would run on a tripartite agreement with MANU, the agency that would provide satellite linkage to the concerned madarsas. Apart from Delhi, Mumbai, Bihar and Gujarat, the three madarsas shortlisted in UP are located in Pilibhit, Sambhal and Deoband.

Providing a robust IT infrastructure for this e-learning initiative, however, would be a challenging task for the university. “We are working on it and are confident that connectivity would not be an issue in conducting these classes through a satellite link,” said Khan.

“So these learning centres would now not only turn-out Imams (a person who leads the prayer in a mosque) but will also groom students with professional qualifications and skills that would enable them to find a job anywhere in the world,” he said.

In April this year, the then Union minister for minorities welfare Najma Heptullah had kick-started skill development programme in 10 madarsas.

The plan included providing e-training in courses like data entry operator under computer training, sewing machine operator, hand embroidery, chikankaari, zardozi, bone carving, beautician and kite making etc. Some 25,000 students were trained in various skills under this programme.