By TCN Staff Reporter,
Lucknow : Union Human Resource Development Minister (HRD) Kapil Sibal clarified on Sunday that madrasas have been clearly kept out of the purview of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (RTE). The HRD Minister was interacting with media personals during his visit to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU).
“We can only interfere in the madrasas imparting religious education if the community wishes so. They are governed by Article 30 and nobody can go above that,” Sibal said.
Kapil Sibal addressing the media at Ambedkar University
“These institutions are not recognized by the government and are hence out of the ambit of the Act. Some sections of people are playing politics and making an issue out of it,” he added.
This might be Mr. Sibal’s attempt to allay apprehensions expressed by Muslim clerics, led by Mahmood Madani, leader Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, that the law would eventually take away the autonomy of the madrasas.
But Mr. Mahmood Madani is not satisfied at just verbal assurances. He wants amendment in the RTE Act 2009, which makes it very clear that madarsas don’t come under the purview of the Act, thereby leaving no scope for speculation.
“We have read some assurances by the concerned minister that the Act doesn’t cover madarsas, but we want clear amendment in the Act which clarifies this fact; because as it is the written law which is implemented on the ground and not what a minister has said,” Mr. Madani said.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Mr. Madani pointed out that, “If RTE 2009 doesn’t cover madarsas, as the minister says, then this should have been mentioned in the Act. The bottom line is that, the Act in its present form does clash with the minorities’ constitutional rights to ‘establish and administer educational institutions’ and thereby poses a threat to madarsas. This needs to be done away with by an amendment and we will make sure that this is done.”
Meanwhile Mr. Sibal also denied any plans of constituting Central Madrassa Board for governing the Madrasa education. He also denied receiving any such proposals from Muslim clerics.
“I have not received any such proposals. Even we have no plans to constitute any central madarsa board,” he added.
On the possibility of recruiting Shiksha Mitras as permanent teachers, the Minister said that they would be recruited only if they had the required qualifications. He also said that the Ministry was ready to provide all the facilities to Shiksha Mitras for attaining the required qualifications.
“We are determined to provide them with required degrees within next three years. This could be done through open universities also,” he said.
The Minister also said that the Ministry was looking at the option of 75 per cent of students being subjected to screening before admission, with 25 per cent from the disadvantaged sections being exempted under the RTE Act.
“Even though Navyodya Vidyalas conduct a screening before admission, we need to implement a practical approach for taking full advantage of the RTE Act,” he added.
Earlier the Minister laid the foundation stone of the proposed Auditorium building at BBAU and also inaugurated the Girls’ Hostel followed by an address to the university teachers, staff and students.