Home Articles School education of minority (Muslim) girls in Andhra Pradesh

School education of minority (Muslim) girls in Andhra Pradesh

By Dr. Rafat Seema,

After Independence, women’s education was one of the priorities among the development programmes in the country. For this purpose many steps were taken up. Due to these steps, education level of women increased. This can be understood from the data in the following table, which is taken from an article by Dr. Amena Tahseen, in a 2006 magazine ‘Voice of Women’, published by the Department of Women Education of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, with the reference of India 2005 Ministry for Information and Broadcasting.

Census

Percentage of Men Education

Percentage of Women Education

1951

27.16

8.86

1961

40.40

15.97

1971

45.96

21.97

1981

56.38

29.76

1991

64.13

39.29

2001

75.26

53.67

But this is one side of the coin. The other side is very depressing. Today even after the development of science and technology, women are unable to understand the universal knowledge and among these women if we take analysis of Muslim girls’ education, these girls will be found lagging behind the girls of other communities. It has been mentioned in the Sachar Committee report that Muslims condition is worse than the Dalits. The below details are as of July 2008:

Government Schools in Andhra Pradesh

No. of Govt. High Schools—————–1737

No. of Govt. High Schools closed———42

No. of Govt. Primary Schools————–638

No. of Govt. Primary Schools closed—–240

Drop-out rate of girls in schools

Enrolment in First Standard———100%

Reaching up to Sixth Standard——50%

Reaching up to Tenth Standard——20%

Does this mean that girls are weak in knowledge than boys, not competitive, less aspired or they do not accept challenges? No, this is not true. If this was true then girls’ percentage would not have been increasing than boys in educational records every year. From school to university level girls’ percentage is showing gain in percentage. The point to be noted here is that though they are still deprived of their basic necessities of life still they prove their talents in educational field. This shows that they are courageous, determined, strong, sincere and hard working. If they are given healthy environment they can achieve greater heights.



Muslim girls at a middle level school run by MESCO (Muslim Educational Social and Cultural Organisation) in Hyderabad

In Andhra Pradesh, the percentage of girls in success and top ranks has been increasing for the last few years. The drop out percentage of the boys is more than the girls. Girls’ interest has increased towards education. Even after this, it is necessary to know what are the reasons and hurdles to move ahead in educational field.

The four basic factors that effect the girls’ education are social, economic, religious and negligence by the state educational department and agencies.

Social Factors:

Gender Discrimination

From the centuries, it has been considered that the birth of a male child is a matter of pride to the family and birth of female child is a sad news. Female feticide has become common in our civilized society. Gender discrimination starts before the birth of girl child and continues till her death. Boys are taught in high level English medium schools whereas spending on girl’s education is considered as wastage of money and therefore they are admitted in the nearby sub-standard schools. Denial of equality, rights and opportunity and suppression in any form, on the basis of gender is called as gender discrimination.

Child Marriages

The worry of the parents start with the birth of girl child for their dowry and they are married off before they reach the legal age of marriage, because marriages are fixed easily at a younger age itself. The parents of boys also prefer younger age girls for marriage. This way, girls are forced to drop out from the education.

The seriousness among boys is not that which is found among girls, because of which they are not able to reach till higher education. Due to this they get employed in menial jobs or otherwise migrate to gulf countries for the jobs. Therefore, the parents fear that if their daughter is highly educated then she may not find equally educated groom.

On the other side, even the groom’s parents also prefer less-educated girl, because they fear that the highly educated girl cannot be controlled and may not be perfect house-wife.

All the above are the reasons for the child marriage and this effect on the education of the girls.

Immorality

The immoral behavior spoils the healthy environment at the educational institutions. For example eve-teasing, ragging, harassment etc. Due to these immoral activities the parents do not want to send their girls for higher education, and even the girls do not want to continue their studies.

In Andhra Pradesh, a large number of acid attacks have taken place in educational institutions. Because of which parents and girl students both feel insecure, this is also the reason in increase of drop-out rate.



Very few Muslim girls reach higher level of education

Economical Factors:

Child Labour

India is a developing country but a large number of people lives under poverty line. Poverty or Low Per Capita income does not allow people to think beyond their basic necessities like food, clothing & shelter. Hence, they cannot imagine spending on the educational needs even if they are provided free education and books. Both the parents work hard for these basic necessities and the elder child has to take care of their younger sibling’s right from the age of five at the time when they are supposed to go to school. When they grow little elder they have to struggle for livelihood by working at the unorganized sectors. They have to work there for 10-12 hours every day. Under these conditions, education for them is like unfulfilled dream.

Unemployment

Due to unemployment of their men, women in Muslim families are left with no other way except taking loans on high rate of interest for their survival; this step is taken by them to settle their men in small business or enterprise. Because of their men’s irresponsibility their business does not take off and the interest on loan goes on increasing and the ultimate sufferers are the women. The people who give loans are the illegal financers and the women become victims of these illegal financers. These women stop their daughter’s education so that they help their mother in earning. Sometimes these illegal financers also exploit their daughters. The example of this is Sameera Begum a drop out of ninth class, was forced to leave education and help her mother’s earning. The illegal financer, Arshad who provided loan, exploited her and in the end threw her from the historical Charminar on 11th June 2009 to erase the proof. But before her death she gave statement which exposed the facts.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a vicious cycle where in low income leads to poverty which leads to lack of proper food and which in turn leads to reduction in resistance towards diseases among women & girls. Due to malnutrition, mothers and girls often suffer from various diseases. And due to improper treatment, they always suffer with anemia. Whether the mothers or girls suffer with ill health, ultimately the girls have to drop out from the education.

Religious Factors:

Parents fear

The very first command in Islam is to acquire knowledge but unfortunately the followers are lagging behind in the same aspect as parents are worried that their girl child will be misguided in the name of Education & indulge in objectionable situations. The religious parents feel that the modern education makes their daughters immoral and they may become irreligious. Therefore, they do not want to send their daughters to modern education.

Co-education

Most of the Muslim parents do not want to send their daughters in coeducational schools because of purdah. Apart from this the other reasons are that the parents observe that girls and boys of co-educational institutions bunk their schools and roam in parks, theatre and hotels. The social evils which spread due to the above reasons restrict parents in sending their daughters in such schools. Due to this, they prefer Madrasa education for their daughters instead of modern schools.

Lack of Secular values in Schools

In many schools of Andhra Pradesh, the students are forced to sing “Vandemataram” and song of Telugu Talli which is against the secular values. This is also the reason for Muslim parents in not admitting their children in modern schools. A fatwa was also issued by Deoband seminar instructing Muslims not to sing “vandemataram.”

Negligence of State Educational Departments and Agencies:

Lack of basic facilities

The government of Andhra Pradesh though makes lot of policies, educational schemes, projects for the upliftment of educational status of women, the basic facilities are not provided. Almost all the government schools do not have even urinals. Whereas the students stay in the schools till evening. Because of lack of urinals and toilet facilities, they suffer from many health problems. There are many students who have to pass urine on the roadside. Other basic facilities like water, electricity. Furniture, are also not available.

Lack of Study material

Books are not provided on time. The matter is not properly translated, not up to the mark and not even of good quality. Because of this, the students lose their interest in education.

Textbooks not according to NCF guidelines

The NCERT and SCERT text books supplied to the students are not according the guidelines of National Curriculum Framework, 2005. There are many lessons that promote communal feelings among the innocent minds. Those lessons also hurt the religious feelings of particular community. These are also against the secular fabric and democratic set up of the country. Thus, these are also the reasons for the drop out level among the students from the schools.

Lack of transportation and Hostels

In many remote areas as the schools are situated very far there is no transportation facility to the students. They even are not provided hostel facility for these kinds of students who come from far areas. This is also one of the reasons for the drop out level.

Dilapidated condition of school buildings and class rooms

The government school buildings and class rooms are in such condition that it seems those are on its last legs. The buildings are not suitable for the school atmosphere. Rooms are not sufficient to run the classes. There are also schools that run 4-5 classes in one room under one teacher. Because of these reasons, the drop out level among the students is also increasing.

Suggestions to overcome the present situation and tackle the problems:

It is high time to think over above said problems and to adopt the measures to overcome and tackle the situation.

Simple procedure

Though the government schemes are well planned but are impractical to implement. Such as Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, Rajiv Vidya Mission, Rajiv Madhyamika Siksha Abhiyaan, these are not providing proper benefit to students because of complications, red-tapism. The benefits are not reaching to the real beneficiaries of the schemes. Therefore these should be simplified so that the students get directly benefited without any complications.



Co-ordination

There is no coordination among the departments of education and their officers, because of which the students are not getting information about the different schemes of government in time. Due to this the students are misbehaved by the authorities and they are denied of benefits. Therefore there should be proper coordination and cooperation among the departments and officers as well as gracious and responsive behavior towards the students.

Honesty, Dedication and Accountability

Due to the lack of honesty, dedication and accountability of the government authorities, students are suffering in every aspect. The simple example is till date in the state of Andhra Pradesh students did not receive scholarships, in spite of the announcement and submission of forms. Students are suffering a lot in getting income certificate, backward class certificate, signature of gazetted officers, and certificate of revenue officers. Therefore the Minority Finance Corporation and the Urdu Academy should be properly organized and recruit honest and responsible staff and the procedures should be simplified of various schemes of scholarships.

Secular Education

As already said above that the textbooks of NCERT and SCERT are not up to the standard of NCF, 2005. There should be no symbol of any religion in the offices, classrooms or in the premises of educational institutions. Because of this, the parents are avoiding to admit their children in the schools. This is very much necessary for the well-being and healthy society.

Education based on empowerment

In early days Home Science was one of the subjects that were taught in School through which girls were familiarized with the art of home-making, which was also a source of income. Hence, the Home Science subject must be included. Vocational education should be introduced and practically implemented even at the High School level. So that the girls students are empowered and later can stand on their feet and become self dependent.

Equal opportunity

There are equal numbers of girl students going to schools as well as madrasas. Therefore equal opportunities should be provided such as scholarships, free transportation, and medical facilities. Girl students are the most suffering people of the nation, therefore, free medical facilities should be provided to them. It is observed that due to lack of medical facilities, students suffer due to eye sight, hearing, and stomach problems.

Stop Discrimination

It is observed that though the government has registered some madrasas under SSA/RVM, their behavior is step motherly with this Madrasa. Mid-day meals are not supplied properly, meager amount of rs.1500/ are given on the name of a teacher’s salary and this is issued once in three to six months. The attitude of government officials towards these Madrasa managements is highly discouraging and misbehaving. The government officials feel these Madrasa as burden on them. Due to this a wide gap appeared between the Madrasa and education department. Therefore, government should direct the authorities to behave with the Madrasa management schools in proper manner.

Conclusion

A nation or society, without the participation of women cannot achieve development.

If we eliminate gender discrimination, women will deliver all the potentials, skills, knowledge to develop the family, the nation and the whole world. Our country is a secular and democratic country and our constitution gives the fundamental rights which guarantees right to life with human dignity and also provide for free and compulsory education to the children for the age of 6-14 years. But it is a matter of deep concern; these rights are still not in implementation. If we implement our constitution of India and practically implement fundamental rights and fundamental duties, then we can overcome the above situations and our nation will achieve heights and our country will be among the developed countries.


(The writer is General Secretary, Nisa Research and Resource Centre for Women, Hyderabad)

[TCN Photos]