MP Government should shift Hindu children from madrasas to regular schools: NCPCR

NEW DELHI: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, on June 14, urged the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh to transfer Hindu children studying in madrasas to regular schools, highlighting that these Islamic institutions are not covered under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Priyank Kanoongo highlighted that there are currently 9,417 Hindu children enrolled in 1,755 registered madrasas across Madhya Pradesh. However, these institutions lack the necessary infrastructure mandated by the RTE Act. He also advocated for Muslim children studying in unregistered madrasas to be shifted to regular schools.

"I urge the MP government to withdraw Hindu children from madrasas," Kanoongo stated while addressing reporters. He further explained that the Act establishing the MP Madarsa Board specifically defines madrasas for Islamic religious education. Section 1 of the Right to Education Act, according to Kanoongo, excludes madrasas from its purview.

According to information gathered by the NCPCR, teachers in these madrasas do not possess a Bachelor of Education (B Ed) degree and have not taken the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Additionally, their infrastructure does not comply with RTE Act standards. Kanoongo also expressed concern about the safety and security arrangements in madrasas, particularly for Hindu children attending such institutions.

Expressing strong disapproval of Hindu children attending madrasas, Kanoongo urged the MP government to rectify the situation promptly. He stressed that under the RTE Act, it is the government's responsibility to establish schools, and funding the Madrasa Board could potentially deny poor children their right to education.