'Madarsas to bridge education gap in Indian Muslims'

The prevailing state of Muslim education in India needs to be upgraded to match the requirements of a competitive job market, according to a prominent Muslim body.

The prevailing state of Muslim education in India needs to be upgraded to match the requirements of a competitive job market, according to a prominent Muslim body.

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"It hurts when you see an educated Muslim, who has studied for more than 14 years at Daru-ul-Uloom Deoband, does not know how to fill an immigration form. What is the use, if after studying for so many years, you are still dependent on others," Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, President, All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM), which claims to represent half a million Imams of India, told PTI.

Maintaining that there is a need for modern education to bring change in Muslims, he says," There are more than 3,50,000 Madarsas in India who teach about Din (religion). But after passing out, the students are left with no career opportunities except becoming Ulemas or Imams. Madarsa education should improve to match the competitive job market."

The organisation recently presented HRD minister with a charter of demands for improving the state of education among Muslims. These include a master plan to encourage education of the girl child and ensuring a role for Muslims in policymaking, implementation and enforcement by the ministry.

"The HRD minister has decided to form a committee which will look after all the reforms needed in the upliftment of Madarsa education in the country," claims Ilyasi.