The number of students enrolled in the madrasas has witnessed a sharp decline in Uttar Pradesh. According to the reports, since 2016 the number of madrasa students has dropped by 3 lakh in the state.
The interest of the new generation in studying in the madrasas of Uttar Pradesh is decreasing continuously. The India Today, quoting the figures of the Madrasa Education Council, reported that the number of students registered in secondary and senior secondary classes has seen a decrease of more than three lakhs during the last six years.
According to the report, in 2016, 4 lakh 22 thousand 627 students registered in the secondary and senior secondary classes in the state. However, this year, it has come down to 92,000, recording a decrease of 3.30 lakhs in these six years.
The local sources informed the Organiser that the improved infrastructure facilities of the government-run schools may be one of the reasons behind this phenomenon. The state-run schools are now attracting more students.
The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) substantiates this claim as the state saw a 13.2% increase in the number of children (aged 6-14 years) in government schools between 2018 and 2021. As per the 16th ASER released last year, a total of 43.1% of the school-going children were admitted to government schools in Uttar Pradesh in 2018. This number rose to 49.7% in 2020 and 56.3% in 2021. While the percentage of school-going children admitted to government schools was less than the national average of 70.3%, the increase in enrollment was highest in the country in the period, stated the report.
“The enrolment in government schools over the last couple of years is reflective of the focus on education in the state. Steps taken by the state government like easy enrolment of children of migrant workers who returned home during the first wave of pandemic, transfer of money into accounts of parents via Direct Benefit Transfer to purchase bags, shoes, sweaters and uniforms for children along with easy accessibility led to the rise in enrolment,” UP basic education minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi told mediapersons last year
Poor quality education offered at the madrasas is said to be one of the other reasons. The certificates issued by the madrasas hold no value as the UP Madrasa Shiksha Parishad has reportedly not yet been able to get its affiliation from any language university or recognition of its courses.
Speaking to India Today, UP Minority minister Dharam Pal Singh said the government has taken major step to improve the quality of education at madrasas. An app also has been launched and investigation is underway about the regular teaching at the madarsas.
