Madhya Pradesh

• 20 Aug 2024

MP Prohibits Hindu Students from Enrolling in Madrasas

Why in News?

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government has issued an order barring Hindu students from enrolling in the madrasas, regulated by the state madrasa board or those receiving government aid.

Key Points

• The decision is a result of  complaints that several madrasas in the state were enrolling fictitious Hindu students to get government aid.
  • An investigation found that thousands of Hindu students have been enrolled in madrasas, which were operating only on paper.
• According to the authorities, the madrasas cannot force the students to participate in the religious activities or religious studies without written consent from them or their parents, if they are minors.
  • All institutes, including madrasas, government-aided, and private institutes, must comply with the provisions of the New Education Policy 2020. 

New Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• The NEP 2020 seeks to tackle the evolving development needs of India.
  • It calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, including its regulations and management, to establish a modern system that aligns with 21st-century educational goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while respecting India's cultural heritage and values.
• It replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education, 1986, modified in 1992 (NPE 1986/92).

Initiatives of Madhya Pradesh For Promoting Menstrual Health

Why in News?

Recently, the India unit of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) praised the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister’s initiatives for promoting menstrual health among adolescents in the state.

Key Points

• During an event, Chief Minister transferred a collective sum of Rs 57.18 crore to the accounts of 19 lakh girl students under the 'Samagra Shiksha' programme for sanitation and hygiene.
• Under the sanitation and hygiene scheme, funds have been transferred for sanitary napkins to girl students of Classes VII to XII.
  • School and college Girls are also being educated about the importance of cleanliness and its measures.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme

• It was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2018.
• It is an integrated scheme for school education covering the entire gamut from pre-school to class XII.
• It aims to deliver inclusive, equitable, and affordable school education.
• It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
• It is being implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme. 
  • It involves a 60:40 split in funding between the Centre and most States.

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

• UNICEF was created in 1946 as International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by the UN relief Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II.
• UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953.
• It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
• UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
  • It strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.
• Headquarters: New York City.