By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: During 2006-07, only 9.38% Muslims were enrolled in primary classes in the country and only 7.62% at upper primary level. The figures, collected by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration, were released by Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh.
The data of Muslims enrolment in schools, collected for the first time, only confirms what the Sachar Committee report indicated about the community’s educational status.
The survey shows that in states where Muslims are in good numbers like West Bengal and Kerala, the community needs a giant leap to make it to the mainstream. Assam, J&K and Andhra Pradesh have, however, performed well on this front.
In West Bengal with Muslim population of over 25%, enrolment at primary level was 27.92% but just 19.63% in upper primary classes. More disturbing situation was in Kerala, the state which topped in composite primary enrolment in the period. The state has 24.7% Muslim population but the enrolment of Muslim children during the period was pathetic – 10.13% at the primary level and 9.59% at the upper primary level.
Assam with 30.92% Muslim population witnessed Muslims enrolment in primary schools at 30.42% but did poorly in upper primary at 17.39%. As for Muslims enrolment in J&K with 66.97% Muslim population, the enrolment is 62.52% at the primary level and 60.55% in upper primary classes. Andhra Pradesh has 9.17% Muslim population but the enrolment of Muslim children in primary level was 10% and in upper primary 9.11% .