Fate of Nepali students uncertain

LUCKNOW : Over 1,000 Nepali students enrolled in madarsas across the state may not be able to take exams of Uttar Pradesh Madarsa Education Board (UPMEB) due to lack of Aadhaar cards, a mandatory pre-requisite for the test, claimed a madarsa teachers’ body.

The issue has been hanging fire now for close to a month as the state government is yet to take a call on whether to allow or deny permission to these Nepali students. With just four days remaining to the February 10 deadline to fill up the examination forms, the Madarise Arbia Teachers’ Association (MATA) has shot off an SOS to the Madarsa Shiksha Board.

“Forms of madarsa examinations are being filled. If the mandatory provision of providing Aadhaar number is not withdrawn, then nearly 1,000 students hailing from Nepal will not be able to take the exam for munshi, maulvi, aalim, kaamil and faazil,” said general secretary, Madarise Arbia Teachers’ Association, Diwan Sahab Jaman Khan.

“The last date to fill the examination form is February 10, and without furnishing Aadhaar details, the examination forms will not be accepted, said Khan. UPMEB registrar Rahul Gupta said only the state government could take a call on the fate of these students and that the Board had apprised it about the situation.

But deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma told PTI, “We are yet to get any such case. If any such case comes to us, then we will think over it and arrive at a decision as per the provisions of the law.”