Assam to Shut Down State-run Madrassa and Sanskrit Institutions

Guwahati, February 12, 2020:

Assam government has decided to shut down all state-run Sanskrit and Madrassa Tols for it does not wish government institutions to provide religious education to students.

Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that Madrassa and Sanskrit Boards in the state will be converted to regular high schools and higher secondary institutions.

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While speaking with mediapersons, he said, “If someone is teaching religion using own money that is no problem, but if state funding is used to teach Quran, then we have to teach Gita, Bible also,” he said, adding, “We do not want the government institutions to provide religious education.”

He cited modernization of the existing Madrassa and Sanskrit institutions to High schools and Higher Secondary schools as the reason behind the move. Himanta Biswa Sarma also added that disbanding the Madrassa and Sanskrit tols in Assam would not impact religious freedom.

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He informed that the move has been made in order to make the two part of the Secondary Education Directorate. He also informed that the teachers working in the Madrassas and Sanskrit Tols would not lose their jobs. Teachers teaching religious subjects will get salaries till their retirement. Teachers of other subjects will continue to teach their subjects in the converted general schools.

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