Education: Issues Related to Minorities

Article 46 of the Constitution states that, “The State shall promote, with special care, the education and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of social exploitation.”

Articles 330, 332, 335, 338 to 342 and the entire Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution deal with special provisions for implementation of the objectives set forth in Article 46.

Similarly, Articles 30 (1) provides for the rights of the Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

These constitutional provisions need to be fully utilized for the benefit of the weaker sections in our society.

Status of Minorities in education

According to ‘Sachar Committee Report’ “one-fourth of Muslim children in the age group of 6-14 years have either never attended school or are drop-outs. For children above the age of 17 years, the educational attainment of Muslims at matriculation is 17%, as against national average at 26%. Only 50% of Muslims who complete middle school are likely to complete secondary education, compared to 62% at national level”. The Report has also drawn attention to the low levels of educational attainment among Muslim women, Muslims in rural areas as well as in technical and higher education.

The High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice RajinderSachar has also made a number of recommendations for improvement of the educational status of the Muslim communities.

Initiatives for the education of Minorities

• A total of 15% of the outlay under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is targeted for the Minority Concentration Districts (MCD)/Areas to achieve the goal of universalization of elementary education, to meet infrastructure gaps for schools, classrooms, teachers and providing access by opening new schools.
• Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas (SPQEM)
• Scheme of Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutions (IDMI)
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme (JNV)
• Setting up of Girls Hostels
• Model Schools under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
• Mid-Day-Meal Scheme
• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)

Also the University Grants Commission (UGC) is implementing the following schemes for minority communities in Central Universities during XI and XII Plan:-

• Centre for Professional Development of Urdu Medium Teachers in three central universities.
• Establishment of Residential Coaching Academy for Minorities, SC/ST and Women in four Central Universities and one in Deemed University.
• Establishment of Satellite Campus for undergraduate, Postgraduate, Programmes in Arabic and Persian.
• Establishment of two Campuses of Aligarh Muslim University.
• Establishment of Model School, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), B.Ed. Colleges, Polytechnics under the ambit of Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
• Since 2009, the UGC has been implementing the scheme of Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students which is being funded by Ministry of Minority Affairs. Under this scheme, the UGC provides financial assistance to selected candidates belonging to minority communities for pursuing M.Phil./Ph.D. research in University/College/Institution and Non-Institutions in the country.

Why Muslims lack in education?

The major factors contributing to lack of education by the minorities especially the Muslims is poverty and accessibility. Besides this, geographical disparity also acts as a hindrance. It is observed that Muslims are generally located in interiors and backward areas because of which they lack education.

Besides this, occupational disparity wherein Muslims chose to undertake trade and therefore less importance is given to education. The other contributing factors could be- higher fertility rates and gender disparity.