Closure of government tols, madrassas from August 15, 2020

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday reiterated in the Assam Legislative Assembly that all ‘kherati madrassas’ (madrassas being run on donations) will have to get themselves registered with the State government and they will have to teach English, Mathematics, and Science along with their regular curricula. The Minister has also made it clear that the government is going to close all government-aided Sanskrit tols and madrassas from August 15 this year, and upgrade them as general high schools. The Minister said this while responding to a plea from Congress legislator Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha who said that Sanskrit tols and madrassas needed modernization, not closure. The Congress MLA raised the issue during the Zero Hour.

Sarma replied, “The government is not against Arabic and Sanskrit languages; but it cannot allow religious teachings at its cost. If anybody wants to teach spoken Arabic, the government doesn’t have any objection. Japanese, Chinese and other languages are also being taught in the State. But one cannot impart teaching of the Quran in the name of teaching the Arabic language.”

The Minister added, “Sanskrit is a part of the Indian culture. The government is not against the language. The government is ready to contribute its mite to the development of Sanskrit culture and language. It, however, can’t allow religious teaching in the tols. All government-funded institutions should teach languages, not religions.”

Also Read: We’re closing madrassas and tols: Himanta Biswa Sarma

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