By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: The West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed in the West Bengal Assembly today amending the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education Act (1994). The bill was placed in the Assembly by State Education Minister Partho Chatterjee on Monday and was passed unanimously.
After amendments those Madrasahs which run the primary sections, but was not duly recognized by law will now come under the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education. So far there was no provision for primary section – generally known as Maktab – in the Act.
After passed amendment bill of Madrasah in WB Assembly PC of Education Minister Partho Chatterjee and Minority Minister Giasuddin Molla on 10 June.
Several Sishu Siksha Kendra (SSK) and Madrasa Siksha Kendra (MSK) running in the state, will now come under West Bengal Madrasah Education Board but without financially assistance.
Madrasah Board will provide Marksheet, Admit Card, Registration and transfer certificates. So far these were provided by Directorate of the Madrasah Education. There are two types of Madrasah system in the state – one system is called the new scheme or High Madrasah Education System and another system called the old scheme-Senior Madrasah Education System.
Under the new scheme High Madrasa Education system, classes started from Standard V to Standard X, while under the old scheme, senior Madrasah Education System classes started from one and up to XII standard.
After the amendments, Senior Madrasah Education System classes will be divided into two parts – class I to Class X will be called `Alim Madrasah’ and class XI to XII will be called `Fazil Madrasah’, which is equivalent to senior secondary.
Later talking to the press, state Education Minister Partho Chatterje said, “This bill will help in making a justified education system in Madrasah education.”
State Minister of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Giasuddin Molla said, now Madrasah education can compete with the modern education system in the state.
MLA Dr Nuruzzaman said in question-answer session of Assembly that as the classes of High Madrasa began from class V, it faced difficulties in students’ enrollment, since they studied primary education in general schools, and hence lacked knowledge of languages like Arabic, etc. Beginning madrasah from elementary level will help students learn Arabic from early stage.
President of West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education Fazle Rabbi told TCN that many Sishu Sikhsha Kendra and Madrasa Shiksha Kendra are running, but neither under the Sarva Sokha Abhijan or Madrasa Board. Amendments will now help bringing them under one Madrasah Board.