20 Apr : Taking cognisance of reports that scores of private schools in Uttar Pradesh, most of them run by Muslims, have converted into madrassas to avail special benefits, the Centre has asked the state govt to conduct an enquiry and submit a report on it.
The HRD Ministry has written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government, asking it to furnish a report on the matter with the factual position."The state government has been asked to state the action taken by it in curbing the trend, if such conversion is happening. They will conduct an enquiry and submit a report on the matter," a senior ministry official said in New Delhi.
According to reports, schools have been converted with the aim to get benefit from the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarassa (SPQEM), launched by the Union Government in February this year.
In the letter, the ministry said the state government will have to find out the affiliations and standing of the schools which have been reportedly converted.
Reports said most of these schools are run by Muslims and do not have more than one year of standing.
However, as per norms of madrassas, which have been in existence at least for three years and registered under Central or State Government Acts or Madrassa Board or with Wakf Boards or NIOS, shall be eligible to apply for assistance under this programme.