The Chandigarh administration aims to enroll all children studying in madrasas into government schools. Chandigarh Child Welfare Department and the Education Department have begun inspecting all madrasas in the city. In recent days, officials and employees from both departments have conducted thorough inspections of all madrasas.
Following central government instructions, children will no longer be allowed to study in unregistered madrasas. The Education Department’s goal is to encourage these children to enroll in recognized government schools for formal education, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP).
The main focus has been on three primary madrasas: Madrasa Arabia Faizul Islam Burail, Ejahul-Uloom Mujaddidi, and Madrasa Shiraz-Ul-Uloom in Manimajra. Currently, these madrasas have 394 students, with 392 being Muslim and 2 from non-Muslim families who have refused to enroll in government schools.
Madrasa Arabia Faizul Islam encourages children from unrecognised schools up to class VIII to enroll in government or recognized schools. The goal is to ensure these students receive mainstream formal education. According to a letter dated 17-5-2012, the NEP is being implemented.
Infrastructure Issues and Inspections
CCPCR chairperson Shipra Bansal noted that during an inspection by CCPCR members, Madrasa Ejahul-Uloom Lam Burail was found to have 235 students, followed by Manimajra with 114 students.
A surprise inspection in January revealed inadequate infrastructure and sanitation issues at Madrasa Arabia Faiz, posing health risks to the children. Sources indicated that Madrasa Ejahul-Uloom Lam Burail also lacked proper legal documentation. As a result, the Chandigarh Education Department held three meetings in these madrasas, emphasising the need for direct admission to Class IX based on the improvement of conditions in government or private schools.
Following the NCPCR visit in December, the CCPCR conducted three additional inspections. Madrasa Aijaz, where students from various areas are admitted directly to Class IX, was among those inspected. In consultation with the education department, it was determined that willing students should be admitted to Class IX to address these issues. According to the NEP, it is important to include every student in STCs in the formal education system.
Overall, the Chandigarh administration is working diligently to ensure that all children receive a formal education by transitioning students from unregistered madrassas to recognized government schools.