The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Madrasas' tryst with modern education

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Madrasas' tryst with modern education

Staff Reporter

District Collector visits seminaries

Hyderabad: "My name is Munteha Nazneen. I want to become a teacher," the girl wrote on the black board.

What's so strange about a 6th class student writing? Only she is not from a mainstream school but a `madrasa'. And she started learning English only two months ago at the Jamia Darul Furqan, Saidabad.

The spelling was perfect and the handwriting appealing. Hyderabad Collector, R.V. Chandravadan, couldn't conceal his astonishment. So were officials of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Saba Sultana of Madrasa Dawatul Quran, Riyasatnagar, did even better. She read out a passage from 7th class Telugu text book fluently.

"Look, her Telugu is better than students of formal schools," the Collector remarked.

Mr. Chandravadan visited some seminaries in the city on Tuesday in a bid to assess their acquaintance with the modern education and to strengthen them through SSA intervention.

Mr. Chandravadan donned the role of a teacher and quizzed the `talibaat' (girl students). He made them read English and do simple arithmetic. Little Naaz of Madrasa Banatul Haram situated in the Mecca Masjid impressed everyone by spelling out the parts of body in English. The English speaking burqa-clad teachers of Tanzim-e-Binte-Haram were another surprise to the officials.

Modern subjects

Contrary to the view that madrasas are opposed to imparting formal education, they expressed readiness to teach the modern subjects. "We do not want to deprive our children of the benefit of modern education", said Abdul Wahid, principal, Jamia Darul Furqan.

The Collector allayed the fears that the Government would exercise control over the madrasas. At present, the SSA was providing assistance to 61madrasas covering 9,437 children. Besides, salary of vidya volunteers, which is now raised to Rs.1,500, would be paid. It was also proposed to provide mid-day meals, dress material and scholarships to check dropout level, Mr. Chandravadan said. The Collector also promised to provide computers with operators and libraries to the madrasas.

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