The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has presented a critical stance on the educational standards of madrasas in a recent submission to the Supreme Court.
The Commission argues that madrasas are “unsuitable or unfit” for providing a quality education to children. It asserts that these institutions often promote the “supremacy of Islam” through their textbooks and fail to offer a comprehensive and formal education. The NCPCR's concerns extend to the curriculum, the qualifications of teachers, and the overall environment provided in madrasas.
The Commission highlighted that the traditional methods of teaching religious texts, coupled with a lack of structured and regular education, result in a system that falls short of educational standards. Issues such as opaque funding, non-compliance with land laws, and the absence of extracurricular activities, including field trips, contribute to a deficient learning environment. The NCPCR emphasized that madrasas do not provide the holistic development that formal schooling offers, including access to midday meals, uniforms, and trained teachers.
Further complicating the issue, the NCPCR pointed out that some madrasas in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal include non-Muslim children in their student body, which it argues violates Article 28(3) of the Indian Constitution, which protects against compulsory religious instruction for non-adherents.
The NCPCR's remarks are part of the ongoing legal debate surrounding the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act, 2004, which the Allahabad High Court struck down. The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed this judgment, and a detailed hearing on the petitions is anticipated. The NCPCR’s submission underscores the broader concerns about aligning madrasa education with national educational standards and constitutional rights.