Uttar Pradesh issues news timetable for madrasas, includes prayers, national anthem

Lucknow: Amid the ongoing controversy over madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, the state Madrasa Education Board has issued new directives including prayers, national anthem and six-hour education for students.

Iftekhar Ahmed Javed, chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board, has issued the new timetable for madrasas affiliated to the state government. The new order will come into effect from October 1.

As per the new directives, the students will attend classes for an extra hour. Accordingly, the classes will now run from 9 am to 3 pm instead of the existing 9 am to 2 pm.

“We want madrasas to match the standards of other good schools so that even the people of the management committee can proudly admit their kids in madrasas for quality education. We must develop a respect for madrasa education first,” Javed said.

He further said that the madrasas will now conduct classes for science, math, English and Hindi daily along with religious subjects like Arabic, Persian, Diniyat and Urdu.

“The madrasa student should not feel inferior when he is moving in the society. He must have good general knowledge, besides knowledge of math, science, English and Hindi along with religious subjects. We want to produce perfect students who can contribute to the development of the country,” Javed said.

Teachers and staff in madrasas will also be on duty for at least six hours. “The government also wants the teachers to work according to the new timetable. The day will start with prayers at 9 am followed by the national anthem. After that, classes would be held till noon. Lunch for students and staff would be from noon to 12.30 pm. After that, classes would be held till 3 pm. All the madrasas are directed to follow this schedule strictly,” he said.

Earlier, the Yogi Adityanath-led government had ordered to conduct a survey of unrecognised madrassas in the state to gather information about the number of teachers, curriculum, and basic facilities available there, among others. The survey has begun and the report will be submitted by October 25.