Madarsas apprehensive about new subjects

Many feel the transition would be difficult as teachers would have to be trained first

LUCKNOW: Those managing Islamic seminaries and madarsas are not sure if students will be able to cope with new subjects like mathematics and science following the state government’s move to introduce National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books in UP madarsas .

There are about 15 lakh students and 33,500 teachers in over 16,000 madarsas in UP.

Lucknow Eidgah Imam Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, who runs one of the oldest madarsas in Lucknow adjacent Aishbah Eidgah, said the transition would be difficult as teachers would have to be trained first. “Training of teachers is essential and the state government should see to it first before rolling out the NCERT books.”

“It will take some time for the madarsa students to cope with the new subjects. We will have to prepare our students mentally first,” said Khwaja Faizi Yunus, who looks after 12 madarsas run by Eram Educational Society.

Many madarsa owners believe that it will not be an easy task to train these many teachers who only taught religious books thus far. “With most madarsas also not so well equipped, they may struggle to set up laboratories, computer lab etc to teach modern subjects,” said a Mufti who did not wish to be identified.

State coordinator of All India Madarsa Modernisation Teachers Association Badre Alam said, “Transition will take time. However, many madarsas are already teaching science and mathematics to their students. NCERT

books may be new to them and initially there may be some hiccups, but gradually everything will settle down.”

In Varanasi, Maulana Deewan Saheb Zama, principal of Madarasa-Madinatul-Uloom, said, “Students are taught modern subjects like English, Hindi, science, math up to Class 12 in our madarasa. Introducing NCERT curriculum is a welcome move. But the government should provide teachers for modern subjects as per curriculum of the NCERT.”

Bareilly’s Mufti Mohammad Miya Qasmi, founder and director of madarsa Arabia Kashif-ul-Uloom, said madarsas were set up for a different purpose. “We have no objections if other subjects are taught alongside our existing religious books,” he said.

Another Bareilly Mufti Syed Kafeel Ahmed Hasmi, head Mufti Dargah-e-Allah Hazrat said he has not seen the NCERT books yet. He said English was an important subject for the present generation. “If there is nothing against our religion in these books, the state government decision is acceptable,” said the Mufti who runs a 112-year-old madarsa Manzare Islam, where 650 students are studying.

Leading Islamic seminary of Darul Uloom, Deoband, however, has been maintaining a studied silence over the decision. Hundreds of madarsas are associated with the seminary and majority of them function without seeking any financial aid from the state government.

Seminary’s Mohatmim Abul Kasim Nomani said the order did not affect Darul Uloom as it is an independent madarsa. “We can’t comment without going through the order in detail,” he said.

Meanwhile, the UP Madarsa Board has started preparation to introduce books by NCERT in the madarsas to standardise and improve the curriculum in sync with present-day job requirements.