Madrassa degrees good only for jobs that ask for Class 12 qualification, UP tells SC

Uttar Pradesh government has told Supreme Court the madrassa education system, focusing on religious studies, is out of sync with mainstream education and that students studying in the theological establishments could be employed only in jobs requiring class 10 or 12 pass qualifications, reported. UP govt's affidavit was filed in a clutch of appeals by madrassas and their teachers challenging Allahabad HC 's judgment, which on March 22 quashed the Madrasa Education Act, 2004, terming it violative of fundamental rights and the principle of secularism. SC has since stayed the HC judgment.

The state said mainstream subjects are taught in madrassas till class 8 as per State Council of Educational Research and Training syllabus, and, " In class 9 and 10, mainstream subjects are not compulsory... students have to choose only one subject from mathematics, home science (only for girls), logic and philosophy, social science, science and Tib (traditional medical science)."

At UG and PG levels, UP Madrasa Board grants qamil and fazil degrees, which have not been given equivalence to any degree under mainstream education by UP/Union govt or any university "for employment at the level of state or Centre", it said. "Thus, employment of madrassa educated students can only be for jobs that have high school/intermediate qualification requirements."