Who funds madrassas in West Bengal, what is taught here? Where Vande Mataram became mandatory

Singing Vande Mataram has been made mandatory in all the madrassas of West Bengal.

The BJP government of West Bengal has made singing Vande Mataram mandatory in all madrassas. This order has been implemented on both government and private madrassas. Earlier, the state government also made singing of Vande Mataram mandatory during morning prayers in schools. West Bengal is in the news these days due to the rash decisions of Chief Minister Shubhendu. For this reason, after the order of Vande Mataram, the discussion has intensified in madrassas.

Come, let us try to know after this order of the government, how do the Madrassas of West Bengal work? What is taught here? How is the education board system of madrassas? Do children of other religions also study here? How many madrassas are there in the state and how are they funded?

Madrasa education in West Bengal operates under the banner of West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education. According to the board’s website, the roots of Madrasa education in Bengal are traced back to the establishment of Calcutta Madrasa. It started in the year 1780. At that time there was British rule in the country. It is natural that the Madrasa was established during the time of the British East India Company. Since then till today it has been continuously flourishing.

1) What is Madrasa, and is it just the study of religion?

According to the board, Madrasa is an Arabic word. It means educational institution or school. It is not right to consider Madrassas in West Bengal limited to only religious studies. Subjects like normal schools are also taught here. The objective is also that children from remote, rural and economically weak families can get education.

2) How is the board system?

West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education works like an education board. According to the information recorded on the website, this board was formed as an autonomous institution under the West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education Act of 1994. It has the rights and facilities at the academic, administrative and financial levels that other education boards of the state enjoy. The work of the board includes giving direction to madrasas, monitoring, controlling, conducting examinations, work related to curriculum, books etc.

3) How many madrassas are there in West Bengal?

According to the data available on the board’s website, there are a total of 850 madrassas in the state. Of these, 614 are recognized. There are 423 high madrasas, 89 junior high madrasas and 102 senior madrasas. The rest are running with private and community funds. Recently 77 Senior Madrasas have been upgraded up to 12th i.e. Fazil. 265 higher madrassas have been upgraded to make them higher secondary i.e. 10+2 eligible. There is information recorded about running vocational courses in 183 madrassas.

4) Do children of other religions also study?

The board clearly says that madrassas are not on the basis of religion, caste, creed, gender. On the President’s Desk page on the website, it is recorded that about 62 percent of the students in madrassas are girls and about 16 percent non-Muslims also study. It has been mentioned that 17 percent of the students and 11 percent of the staff in the higher madrassa are non-Muslims. In this way, in different sections on the board’s website, the ratio of non-Muslim students has been stated to be around 16-17 percent. In this way it can be said that children of other religions also study in madrassas.

5) What is taught in madrassas?

Mainly two schemes have been mentioned for Madrasa education in West Bengal.One-High Madrasa Education System (New Scheme) andTwo-Senior Madrasa Education System (Old Scheme).

• High Madrasa Education System:According to the board, the subjects and curriculum in higher madrasa are the same as secondary education. The difference is that two more special topics have been included here. Introduction to Arabic and Islam. Rest of the general subjects like language, mathematics, science, social science etc. are conducted like other schools.
• Senior Madrasa Education System:Here there is a mix of theology and Islamic studies along with general subjects. It is recorded on the website that at Aalim i.e. 10th level, along with language, science and social science, Arabic and Islamic theology are also taught. In the senior madrassa, the one running from class 1 to 10 is called Aalim Madrassa and the one running from class 1 to 12 is called Fazil Madrassa.
  

  In higher madrasa, class 10 certificate is considered equivalent to secondary. Photo: PTI

6) How are the exams and certifications conducted?

Just like all the education boards of the country conduct their examinations, similarly this board also conducts examinations. It is recorded on the website that class 10 certificate in higher madrassa is considered equivalent to secondary. In the senior system, Aalim is also said to be equivalent to Madhyamik. Fazil i.e. 10+2 is equivalent to Higher Secondary of West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. This means that students can get options for further studies in the mainstream education system.

7) How is studies evaluated?

CCE system is implemented in madrassas. This means their monitoring is continuous. The test process is also fixed. Apart from this, grading system and interest, behaviour, outdoor activities, social qualities are also said to be included in the course. The objective is stated that the development of the child should not be measured only by examination marks.

8) How is the funding done?

Funding of madrassas in West Bengal is explained in two tiers on the board’s website.

• Many madrassas were initially built with donations from the community. Later many of these madrassas were successful in getting recognition from the board and now they also get help from the government.
• Recognized and aided madrassas are run with government support. Teachers and employees of such madrassas get all the salary and retirement benefits from the government. The government also bears the financial responsibility for the development of infrastructure and other facilities. These include things like free books, drinking water, sanitation etc. Education is free up to class 12 in recognized aided institutions. Mention of grant for facilities like common room, toilet, hostel, mess for girls is also available on the website. The government also provides assistance for the State Madrasa Sports Meet.
• Some madrassas are also run by individuals, communities and institutions. They have been called Makhtab or Khariji Madrasas. These may move in different ways. Their funding is usually privately or community based.

In this way, it can be said that the Madrasa system of West Bengal is a board-based education system. Here modern subjects and some special subjects go together. Examinations are conducted in a fixed structure. The certificate is said to be equivalent to mainstream boards. Madrasas are open to all. Non-Muslim children also study. Many institutions run with government assistance. Some madrassas also run with private and community financial support.

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