The Assam Assembly recently passed a bill that aims to convert state-run madrasas into regular schools, thus shifting them away from their status as religious educational centres. Additionally, the Cabinet has agreed to transform existing provincialised Sanskrit tols (centres) into “study centres, research centres and institutions to study the Certificate/ Diploma/ Degree courses.” This new start is set to be initiated by Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University, Nalbari on 1st April 2022.
The Assam Repealing Bill, 2020
The Assam Repealing Bill, 2020, has been introduced with the goal of repealing two pre-existing acts – The Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialisation) Act, 1995, and The Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialisation of Services of Employees and Re-Organisation of Madrassa Educational Institutions) Act, 2018. The fresh legislation will also extend to cover private madrasas that operate under state boards. However, those private-run madrasas which do not fall under any state board will continue to operate outside the scope of this new law.
Understanding the Term ‘Madrasa’
In the English language, the term ‘madrasa’ primarily implies Islamic educational institutions. Historians and scholars often use it to denote historical madrasah establishments throughout the Muslim community, or in other words, colleges or schools where Islamic law was taught alongside secondary subjects.
The Impact on Existing Madrasas
Madrasas governed by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) will remove ‘madrasa’ from their names and commence functioning as ordinary schools. Staff members of the madrasas, particularly those who teach religious subjects, will retain their positions. They will be provided with training to instruct other subjects or engage in different roles.
Further Aims of the Bill
This development is seen as an effort to empower the Muslim populace. The bill is said to align with the principles espoused by B R Ambedkar who held that religious instruction should not be included in the curriculum. He argued that, just as texts of other religions like the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita are not taught at government expense, neither should the Quran. Currently, the government allocates Rs. 260 crore annually for madrasas and Sanskrit tols.
The Principle of Secularism
Secularism is one of the ‘basic features’ of the Indian Constitution, and this law aims to uphold it. The government hopes that future legal provisions will encourage private madrasas to include science, maths and other subjects to their curricula alongside religious subjects.
