Mangaluru : The Karnataka government is planning to introduce an exclusive syllabus for students studying in madrassas in the state.

Shrimant Balasaheb Patil, minister for handlooms & textiles, minority welfare said that, “The state government is mulling on introducing an exclusive syllabus for students studying in madrassas in the state, who are deprived of a formal education. As per the plan, students will be able to receive a certificate equivalent to the SSLC, that allows them to get admission to PU and other courses.”

The minister told the media that there are hundreds of madrassas where children get a religious education, but many of them are deprived of a formal education. “We have sought the opinion of Muslim religious leaders from across the state. We have received a positive response to the proposal. For the first time in India, Karnataka will have an exclusive formal education curriculum for madrassa students,” Patil said.

In addition to religious education, madrassa students will also be taught English, mathematics and other subjects that their counterparts in regular schools study in class 10. “We are in the initial stage of the proposal, and it may take another year for us to introduce the new syllabus, which will be prepared by experts,” he said.

The minority department also has plans to open 30 ITIs, one in each district in the state, and polytechnics, with the help of the central government, through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). “Union minister of minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will soon hold a discussion about the various plans. Our aim is to improve the quality of education that students from the minority community get. More emphasis will be given for regions where the quality of education is not up to the mark,” he added.