Child Rights Panel Recommends Closure of Madrasa Boards and Withdrawal of State Funding
- M.R Mishra
- Oct 13, 2024
- 2 min read
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sent a recommendation to all state and union territory chief secretaries, urging the closure of madrasa boards and the cessation of state funding to these institutions. It also suggested that children attending madrasas be transferred to formal schools to receive education in accordance with the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009.
The report, titled "Guardians of Faith or Oppressors of Rights," claims that madrasas violate children's educational rights and that their curricula do not meet RTE standards.
Additionally, it highlights concerns regarding the qualification of teachers and the lack of accountability in madrasa operations. The recommendations have sparked political reactions, with Congress and allies criticizing the move, while BJP’s allies caution against any hasty action.
The NCPCR has made several recommendations, including:
Removing non-Muslim children
Non-Muslim children should be removed from madrasas and enrolled in formal schools.
Enrolling Muslim children
Muslim children attending madrasas should be enrolled in formal schools to receive education as per the RTE Act.
Stopping funding
State funding for madrasas and madrasa boards should be discontinued and these boards should be closed down.
Integrating madrasas into formal education
Madrasas should be integrated into the formal education system
The Commission asserted that merely constituting a Board or taking a UDISE Code does not mean that the Madrasas are following the provisions of RTE Act, 2009.
NCPCR relied on Judgement: SLP (Civil) No. 008541 of 2024 in case of Uttar Pradesh
The Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 is a landmark legislation in India that mandates free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 14. It is anchored in Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, which recognizes education as a fundamental right. The Act outlines the responsibilities of the government, schools, and parents to ensure that every child has access to quality elementary education.
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