In 3 yrs, 300% hike in funds for quality education in Madrasas

By Rizwan Khatik - Thu Aug 11, 6:03 am

New Delhi: How many are the takers of these funds? No idea. But the Congerss-led UPA Government has made 300% increase in the annual fund for quality education in madrasas. The fund for the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarasas (SPQEM) in 2009-10 was just Rs 50 crore which increased to Rs 150 crore in 2011-12.

SPQEM seeks to encourage traditional institutions like Madarsas and Maktabs to introduce Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Hindi and English in their curriculum, so that children studying in these institutions attain academic proficiency.

The budget provision for SPQEM has progressively increased from Rs. 50 crore in 2009-10 to Rs. 104 crore in 2010-11 and Rs. 150 crore in 2011-12.

SPQEM is a scheme for educational empowerment of children in Madarsas and Maktabs. The introduction of modern subjects is voluntary. The Government has conducted several workshops to spread awareness about the scheme, and provided enhanced annual outlays for its implementation.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.