Lucknow:
Madrasas in Uttar Pradesh are trying to shed the image of being mere centres of Islamic learning. The State Board of Madrasa Education has now revamped the syllabus, and computers and English lessons have now been made compulsory.
Come first of July, all madrasas affiliated to the State Madrasa Board will make computer learning mandatory.
Munshi and Maulvi, which are the high school equivalents in Persian and Arabic, will also for the first time have English and Hindi as compulsory subjects.
The board feels this move was essential to open other job avenues for madrasa students who would otherwise end up becoming clerics.
"Every student wants to learn, because they know that this is the world of Internet, computers, modern techniques and all, and if they don't learn these things after two years and three years down the lane they would not stand anywhere," said Younis Khan, director, Iram Madrasa.
So far only about 400 government-aided and some private madrasas have computers. The board is now trying to ensure that all 2300 schools affiliated to it have at least two computers. Students feel this will open up more opportunities for them.
"In other countries most Muslims speak English, and if we go abroad, and want to teach others something about our religion then we should know the language so that we can communicate well," said Sadiq Zafar, a madrasa student.
"Almost every shop, big or small, uses a computer these days, so we would learn computers, we can even start out own business, also we can propagate the beliefs of our religion as well," said Haider Ali, another madrasa student.
"This would benefit us in the outside world, and we would make use of it by getting a job in any department office, or any shop, said Sadiq Zafar, a madrasa student.
The board has been quick to reassure the traditionalists that computers will not dilute the Islamic way of learning.