Assam Assembly passes Bill to convert madrassas into general schools

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With passing of the 'The Assam Repealing Bill-2020' on the concluding day of the three-day winter session of the Assam Assembly on Wednesday, the stage is now set for conversion of all the provincialized madrassas into general schools. It will be effective from April 1, 2021.

However, following a debate on this Bill and dissatisfied with the reply from Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the legislators from Congress and AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) staged a walkout. They also raised slogans demanding that the Bill must be placed before a Select Committee of the House.

Earlier in his reply on the floor of the House, Minister Sarma said, "None of the converted madrassas will be closed. On the other hand, the Bill will ensure development of the future generations of the people following the Islam religion. However, the government cannot spend public money on religious educational purposes."

Referring to a survey, he said, "An Islamic scholar from Assam has found in his study that 82 per cent of the students studying in madrassas prefer studying in general schools. This is because these students have ambitions to hold responsible and high posts in the society in different professions."

The Minister asserted, "These converted madrassas will now function under the SEBA(Board of Secondary Education, Assam). Within two years, enrollment will also go up in these converted educational institutions, where the curricula will get modernized. Moreover, new teachers will be also recruited. Though there will be no more classes on theological subjects, those on functional Arabic languages will continue to be taught in these schools."

He concluded by saying, "I think, this Bill is my best gift to the Islamic society. After a few years, the society will laud this move taken by the present State government."

Participating in the debate on the Bill, Sherman Ali Ahmed (INC) demanded, "Before passing the Bill, the government should come up with a comprehensive plan to transform the madrassas into 'centres of excellence'. Moreover, there is a need to set up a university to teach Arabic and Urdu along with English. It can be on the lines of Kumar Bhaskar Barman Sanskrit University."

Opposing the Bill, AIUDF legislator Hafiz Bashir Ahmed (Qasimi) pointed out, "The madrassas in Assam have enrollment of about 1.20 lakh students. Prior to the introduction of the Bill, the government should have taken into confidence all stakeholders. Since that has not been done, the Bill should be sent to a select committee of the Assembly."

Rafiqul Islam (AIUDF) also demanded that the Bill should be sent to a select committee of the Assam Assembly. He also stressed the need to upgrade the madrassas.

Opposing the government's move, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia as well as Sukur Ali, Wazed Ali and Rockibul Hussain (all of INC) demanded that the Bill must be sent to a select committee of the House. They also said that discussions must be held with all stakeholders prior to taking any decision on the madrassas. Nurul Huda of the same party said, "The status quo must be maintained with respect to the madrassas."

As the Education Minister refused to budge from his stand, the Opposition staged a walkout. In their absence, the House passed the Bill.

Also Read: No fresh enrollment in madrassas from April 2021: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Also watch: Himanta Biswa Sarma Addressing Press at Janata Bhawan (Assam Secretariat), Guwahati