Assam-Madrassa Repeal Act

Recent news :

=> The Gauhati High Court on upheld the decision of the State government to convert 397 provincialized madrassas to general educational institutions. => The High Court dismissed the writ petition.

Madrasa and Sanskrit tols:

Madrasa:

=> A religious school, where children are initiated into tenets of the Quran, the Sharia and Hadith.

=> The first priority for their children is the acquisition of knowledge about Islam and their religious beliefs.

=> Other subjects are also taught in Madrasas like English, Maths and General Science.

=> Some Madrasa are state funded while some are privately runned.

Sanskrit Tols:

=> A religious school institutions where children are given teaching in tenets of Hinduism like Gita, Mahabharat.

=> Students are also taught English, Maths and General Science.

Madrassa Repeal Act:

=> In December 2020 the Assam government announced that the Madrassa system of education in the State, will be abolished from the next academic session.

=> The Sanskrit tols will be converted into centres of ancient studies.

=> For this Assam Repealing Act 2020 was introduced to repeal Madrassa Education and Sanskrit Tols.

=> The act converted about 397 madrassas and 4 Arabic colleges to general educational institutions. 

Reasons for shut down:

1. Maintain Secular Fabric

• It is not the responsibility of a secular government to give religious teachings by spending taxpayers money.

2. To ensure fundamental duty

• One of the fundamental duties under Article 51A is to develop scientific temper.
• But Madrasa and Sanskrit tols emphasises more on religious teachings less on modern scientific teachings.

3. Economic

• The pass out of Madrasa and Sanskrit tols find difficult to get jobs.

=> A writ petition was filed before the Gauhati High court against Assam Repealing Act 2020.