By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Kolkata: In a big development for the Muslim community in West Bengal, the state government has recognized 100 madrasas. More than 400 applications for the recognition of madrasas were lying with the state Board of Madrasas for one decade. The state finance department has approved a proposal concerning the recognition of 100 madrasas. The recognition will be effective from May. Presently, the board takes care of 508 madrasas.
The approval has been given on the condition that new madrasas will have to recruit teachers selected by the state government. The state government also plans to rope in 400 madrasas that refused to take in teachers appointed by the government. Minister of State for Minorities and Madrasa Education, Abdus Sattar, said around 400 madrasa shiksha kendras will be set up in the state.
With panchayat elections scheduled for May, the department has fixed a target of offering around Rs 28 crore (in coordination with the Union government) as educational assistance to minorities.
While the implementation of the long-pending decision is expected to improve academic standards in 500 madrasas, the move comes as a challenge for thousands of privately managed madrasas across the state. Though government reforms in madrasa education have found takers, there is still a large section of minorities that see state intervention as interference in the teaching of Islamic theology.