KARACHI, Sept 13: Sindh-based religious scholars belonging to different schools of thought looked, on Saturday, flexible to some extent on a government proposal of adding science and computer subjects to the curricula of the madressahs, besides appointing teachers and releasing funds to these institutions.
Apprehensive of government intentions, the religious leaders at first rejected the proposal at a “consultation with seminaries” programme, arranged by the Sindh education department, under a federal government project, saying the proposed subjects were already being taught at these institutes. However, their stance softened later.
“The religion does not obstruct the development process, neither it restricts anybody from acquiring scientific knowledge and education,” they declared.
In the beginning, provincial education minister Irfan Marwat gave a detailed briefing to the religious leaders on the proposed scheme, according to which 32,000 teachers would be appointed at 8,000 madrassahs across the country.
Under the five-year programme, the federal government plans to spend about Rs11,824 million on madressahs. The programme includes appointing of 16,000 teachers in 4,000 madressahs for teaching formal subjects at primary level. These teachers would be offered a salary of Rs4000 per month.
While 12,000 teachers have been proposed to be appointed at 3,000 madressahs at secondary level with a monthly pay of Rs5,000, while 4,000 teachers would be recruited at a monthly pay of Rs10,000 at 1,000 madressahs at intermediate level.
The madressahs would also be provided textbooks, stationary, vehicles, computers, sports facilities, gas, electricity and other utilities etc, besides arranging teachers’ training.
Mr Marwat, while rejecting the impression that the government intended to take over the madressahs, said: “We do not want to impose any decision on the religious scholars or seminaries. We just want to consult and do some thing that can make the students of seminaries acceptable in the job market,” he clarified.
It had been proposed to add subjects of Mathematics, Social Studies, Pakistan Studies, General Science etc to the existing curricula of the madressahs, the minister said adding that even the textbooks would be prepared in consultation with madressahs.
Sindh Education Secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha informed the gathering that Sindh‘s share in federal allocation for madressahs would be about Rs3 billion and it had been proposed to release Rs1.5 million to each madressah in the province, over five years, to meet expenses for the implementation of the scheme.
Maulana Umer Sadique, parliamentary leader of the MMA in Sindh assembly, in his speech said the religion had never obstructed the development process and the science education, which was evident from the fact that majority of the world‘s eminent scientists were Muslims.
He also rejected the ‘propaganda’ that the madressahs were ever involved in terrorism.
He admitted that science education imparted at the seminaries was limited owing to scant resources, however said that no government intervention would be allowed in the affairs of religious institutions.
Umer Sadique, besides suggesting that the government should hold consultation on the proposed scheme with federation of seminaries, also forwarded a proposal to the religious leaders, running the seminaries, to approach the government if they desired introduction of new subjects and appointments of suitable teachers.
He welcomed the move and asked for continuing further consultations.
Mufti Muneebur Rahman said that they were not orthodox but the existing system had created such doubts. Referring to public sector educational institutions, he said the madressahs were much better than those, where there was no academic atmosphere and labs were inoperative.
These government institutions could improve if the rulers, bureaucrats and wealthy people got their children admitted there, he opined.
He categorically stated that they would not accept teachers appointed by the government.
Mufti Mohammad Usman Yar of Wafaqul Madaris (Federation of Seminaries) said they would accept the addition in existing curricula of the seminaries subject to the condition that the new curricula, so developed, would uniformly be introduced in all the government institutions in the country.
He criticized the standard of education at government institutions and said it declined after nationalization and now they would never allow such thing to happen at the seminaries. He also disapproved the sum proposed to be paid to each madressah.
Maulana Mohammad Zakaria of Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith, while favouring the idea of imparting science education to madressah students opined that tense situation prevailed at madressahs, and the children at the madressahs had the right to avail modern educational facilities. However, he opposed the idea of government funding for the purpose.
Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Sialvi of Tanzeemul Madaris suggested introduction of madressah curricula in government institutions, claiming that the proposed subjects were already being taught and regular examinations were held at madressahs.
Farooq Ahmed Qasuri of Jamiat Ahle-Sunnat appreciated the government for taking interest in improving the seminaries and said the condition of students there was very poor. He said there was no restriction on any body for acquiring science education.
Zamir Akhtar Qasuri of Rabita Al-Madaris called for removing misunderstandings among the religious scholars and suggested holding of meetings with the Federation of Seminaries.
Mr Marwat, in the end, assured the scholars that madressahs would remain independent and any funding would be unconditional. He told that such consultations would also be held at national level.
MPA Hafiz Naeem and several other religious leaders attended the consultation and asked for further meetings.—PPI