NCPCR calls for halt to state funding for Madrasas over education rights violations

NCPCR on Madrasa Funding: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recommended an immediate cessation of state funding to madrasas across India. It further urged the disbandment and shutdown of madrasa boards, citing violations of the fundamental Right to Education for over 10 million children enrolled in these institutions.

Findings from the NCPCR Report

These recommendations stem from the findings outlined in the NCPCR's latest report, titled Guardians of Faith or Oppressors of Rights: Constitutional Rights of Children vs. Madrasas. The report raises alarming concerns regarding the functioning of three specific madrasas, revealing that around 1.25 crore children are being deprived of their basic education rights.

Priyank Kanoongo, the NCPCR chief, emphasized the report's conclusions, stating, “The management of these madrassas includes individuals who previously expressed intentions to propagate Islam throughout India during the partition.” This longstanding concern has prompted the Commission to take decisive action.

Deprive students of access to educational opportunities

The report underscores that religious institutions operating outside the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 negatively affect children's educational opportunities. The exemption of madrasas from this act has deprived students of access to quality education. Although Articles 29 and 30 of the Indian Constitution safeguard the rights of minorities to preserve their culture and establish educational institutions, the NCPCR argues that these protections have inadvertently led to discrimination against madrasa students. Consequently, these children miss out on essential formal education as mandated by the RTE Act.

Despite focusing primarily on religious education, many madrasas lack crucial components of a formal educational system, including adequate infrastructure, trained educators, and comprehensive academic curricula. This deficiency places students at a significant disadvantage compared to their peers in mainstream educational settings.

Moreover, the report reveals troubling instances where madrasa students are denied basic entitlements such as textbooks, uniforms, and access to the midday meal scheme. The NCPCR expressed alarm over the large number of Muslim children out of school, estimating that approximately 1.2 crore Muslim children are not receiving formal education, according to UDISE 2021-22 data. Concerns about accountability in many madrasas were also raised, particularly regarding physical safety due to inadequate facilities and reports of child rights violations.

Recommendations for Action

To address these issues, the NCPCR has recommended several measures, including halting state funding to madrasa boards unless they adhere to the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The Commission also proposed the removal of non-Muslim children from madrasa settings, citing a violation of Article 28 of the Constitution, which prohibits religious instruction without parental consent.