Uttar Pradesh

• 19 Jul 2022

Minimum Age for Admission in Madrassas

Why in News?

• On July 16, 2022 Minister of State for Minority Welfare of Uttar Pradesh, Danish Azad Ansari said that a committee would be formed to determine the minimum age limit for admission in Madrassas of the state, on the basis of which the decision regarding age determination would be taken.

Key Points

• Minister of State for Minority Welfare Danish Azad Ansari said the state government will fix a minimum age limit for admission to Madrassas in the state on the lines of various education councils, including the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE).
• At the same time, he dismissed speculations that the maximum age limit of students would be considered, saying that the government has no idea of fixing the maximum age for admission to Madrassas.
• Diwan Saheb Zaman Khan, general secretary of the Teachers' Association Madaris Arabia Uttar Pradesh, an organisation of Madarsa teachers of the state, said that the minimum age of students for admission to class one in Madrassas of the state is five years and the minimum age for admission to class 10 is already fixed at 14 years.
• There are 16,461 Madrassas in Uttar Pradesh, of which 560 receive government grants. Under the grant, salaries and allowances are paid to teachers and non-teaching staff of Madrassas.
• It may be recalled that in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in May 2022, it was decided on a proposal moved by the minority welfare department that new Madrassas in the state will no longer get government grants.