Winds of change: English enters madrasas, Islamic Society, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Society

Winds of change: English enters madrasas

The madrasas have woken up to the significance of English language

Abantika Ghosh ,TNN

8 Aug 2008

People like Talha and institutions like the one for girls in a dingy by-lane of Ghonda that is impatiently waiting to lay its hands on the first computer are a symbol of how the purdah is slowly but surely lifting in madrasas across the city. Responding to a recently-announced Delhi government scheme to give aid for starting computer education in madrasas, 100-odd of the close to 350 madrasas in Delhi have already applied to the Urdu Academy.

But lurking underneath is also a fear that taking aid from the government could also entail a risk that a '' change of dispensation'' would result in a '' takeover' ' bid over madrasas - something that the academy and its three-member team that is assessing madrasas on their computer readiness are actively trying to dispel. Voicing the concerns of many madrasa teachers, the principal of the Faiz-e-Azam Madrasa in Seelampur said: '' It is okay if the government is giving us only computers because their giving us teachers or starting to pay the salaries of our teachers makes us vulnerable to any future overtures by the establishment to hinder our religious education.''

http://newageislam.com/winds-of-change--english-enters-madrasas/islamic-society/d/478

IAS coaching centre for madrasa students on cards, Islamic Society, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Society

IAS coaching centre for madrasa students on cards

CLERICS TO LEND HELPING HAND

By Mohammed Wajihuddin, TNN

Markazul Maarif, a Crawford Market-based institute which coaches clerics in the English language and literature, has shown interest in guiding students appearing for the civil services exams. “Before Dr Qasmi showed us the way, we didn’t even think that this could be possible. Now madrasa students have another avenue to aim for,’’ said Markazul Maarif ’s director Maulana Burhanuddin.

Coming from a poor family in Siddharth Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Dr Qasmi did “fazilat’’ (post-graduation) from Darul Uloom Deoband located there. As his madrasa degree didn’t make him eligible for the civil services exams, he did his BA in Unani Medicine and Surgery from Hamdard University in Delhi. He later completed his MD from Aligarh Muslim University and in, the fourth and last attempt, cracked the IAS exams last year.

Dr Qasmi’s success is being hailed as an example worth emulating. Now, instead of finding excuses, mostly imaginary, the clerics have closed ranks to kick off a programme which will encourage more Muslim students to try for the civil services.

http://newageislam.com/ias-coaching-centre-for-madrasa-students-on-cards/islamic-society/d/233

Madrasa helps dropouts clear class 10 exam, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Madrasa helps dropouts clear class 10 exam

By Sundipto Mondal

All madrasa complexes are free after 9 a.m. and Mr. Putthige with his two cousins Hameed Ullal and Akram Ullal decided to make the most of this. They formally registered an organisation called “Talent Research Foundation” (TRF) and started training dropouts.

“This is not an organisation meant for Muslims alone. Illiteracy does not have a religion neither does education,” says Mr. Putthige. The successful students narrated some heart-warming stories at the madrasa in Kannur on Wednesday. Asha (26) says she had dropped out of school after VII standard because of her father’s death. “That was 13 years ago,” she reveals. She passed the SSLC examination with a first class this year. “Now I want to become an IAS officer,” she blushes.

http://www.newageislam.com/madrasa-helps-dropouts-clear-class-10-exam/current-affairs/d/30

Decline of Muslims and its Solution: Turkish philosopher Bediuzzaman Nursi’s perspective

Islamic Society

Decline of Muslims and its Solution: Turkish philosopher Bediuzzaman Nursi’s perspective

by Dr. Mohd. Akram Nawaz, New Age Islam

The educational system in Turkey like other parts of the Islamic World of the time had not incorporated modern sciences. Allama Shibli Nomani (1857-1914), an activist for curricular change in madrasa education in India, paid a visit to Constantinople’s educational institutions with a view to studying the educational system and academic progress there. He went to the office of the sir rishtae taliim (Ministry of Education) and received valuable information from the academic officials. Allama Shibli visited many big schools and colleges and met its teachers and professors. Shibli himself, a product of traditional education, then attached with Aligarh Muslim University, based on a modern understanding of educational needs, was well aware of merits and demerits of both the systems. Unfortunately, Shibli did not find the convergence of traditional and modern education in Turkey either. He saw the same gap between the old and modern sciences as he saw in his own country.