RTE threat:Muslim institutions to form associations
Our special correspondent
NEW DELHI: The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) has asked Muslim educational institutions to form an association at local and national level so that they could highlight their apprehension untidily.
The AIMMM said that after the introduction of the Right to Education Act, such consolidation has become necessary, because many minority institutions face the threat of closure or severe penalties, if they fail to meet the infra-structure standards under the Act.
“No Institution can fight the battle on its own and they all need a strong organization at every level”, said Syed Shahabuddin, President of the Mushawarat.
“All districts with substantial number of Muslim minority institutions, associations should be established to affiliate all schools from the primary level upwards including equivalent Madarsas, as well as all general or technical colleges” he suggested.
The AIMMM proposed that in each district, the leading Muslim institutions should take the lead and initiative action to bring Muslim schools/ colleges on a common platform
.It also request eminent Muslim educationalist at the national level to consult each other to convene a National Conference of Muslim Educational Institutions.’
In some states like Tamil Nadu & Maharashtra there are state federations of associations to provide a platform for such interaction but in most states the Muslim do not have such platforms. On the other hand, Christian educational institutions are much better organized. Their state organizations not only give technical advice on how to face difficult situations but even take up general issues with the state government or university concerned.
Article 30 of the Constitution entitles a religious or linguistic minority to establish and administer educational institution of its choice. In view of the surge of education in the Muslim community, more & more educational institutions, schools, colleges or even universities are being opened by the community.
The creation of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institution was a step towards alleviating these difficulties but in actual fact many minority institutions have not been able achieve recognition and affiliation and secure due grant-in-aid, due to political & bureaucratic hurdles they face.
