MINORITIES EDUCATION
PRESENT SITUATION Articles 29 and 30 guarantee the right of minorities to conserve the language, script and culture and to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice whether based on religion or language. So far as linguistic.minorities are concerned the following constitutional guarantees have been provided which are in addition to articles relating to fundamental rights in part III of the Constitution:-
(i) Article 29. Protection of interests of minorities.
(a) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.
(b) No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution. maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.
(ii) Article 30. Right of Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
(a) All minorities, whether based on religion-or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
(b) The State shall not in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of minority, whether based on religion or language.
(iii) Article 350 A. Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage.
(a) It shall be the endeavour of every State and of every local authority within the State to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups; and the President may issue such directions to any State as he considers necessary or proper for securing the provision of such facilities.
The implementation of the above guarantees has been uneven although the various Conferences of Education Ministers,
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Government of India memorandum of 1956 as also the statement on languages in 1958 etc., have been laying emphasis on the special treatment to linguistic minorities.
2. According to 1981 Census, the religious minorities constitute about 17.4% of the population of which Muslims are 11.4%, Christians 2.4%, Sikhs 2%, Buddhists 0.7% and Jains 0.5%. Ministry of Home Affairs have identified Muslims and Neo-Buddhists as educationally backward at national level. It was agreed that the State Governments may also identify other groups which are educationally backward at the State level. Special efforts need to be taken to bring these educationally backward minorities on par with the rest of the society and to make them participate fully in the national developmental activities.
3. The National Policy on Education 1986 states the following regarding education of minorities vide para 4.8 of the document: "Some minority groups are educationally deprived or backward. Greater attention will be paid to the education of these groups in the interest of equality and social justice. This will naturally include the constitutional guarantees given to them to establish and administer their own educational institutions, and protection to their languages and culture. Simultaneously, objectivity will be reflected in the preparation of text books and in all school activities, and all possible measures will be taken to promote an integration based on appreciation of common national goals and ideals, in conformity with the core curriculum."
PHASING OF TARGETS, STRATEGY ENVISAGED AND PRIORITY MEASURES
(a) PROGRAMME FOR 1986-87 The on-going programmes of the Department of Education which would continue in 1986-87 are:
(i) Imparting of technical skills through the 10 Community Polytechnics set up in areas of predominant minority concentration.
(ii) Programme of evaluation of text books from the standpoint of national integration currently undertaken by NCERT.
(iii) Orientation programmes for principals/managers and training programmes for teachers of minority educational institutions to be taken up by NCERT in a phased manner.
(iv) University Grants Commission's Scheme of giving assistance to universities/colleges for starting Coaching Classes for students belonging to educationally backward minorities.
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(b) PROGRAMME TO BE IMPLEMENTED DURING REMAINING
THREE YEARS OF
THE SEVENTH PLAN VIZ. 1987-88 TO 1989-90: The above schemes with supportive funding will be extended during the remaining years of the Seventh Plan. The NCERT, Ministry of Welfare and the Department of Education have been having dialogue with the Vice- Chancellors of the Universities of Aligarh, Jamia Millia Islamia, Kashmir, Marathwada and Osmania Universities, for setting up of Resource Centres which would provide training and guidance to minority educational institutions situated near these Centres. The scheme for setting up of such centres is at present under consideration of the Ministry. A proposal amounting to Rs. 65 lakhs has been made for the Seventh Plan period for setting up of these Resource Centres. The scheme of Community Polytechnics would also be extended to include five more polytechnics in the minority concentration areas during the Seventh Plan period.
(c) LONG TERM PROGRAMMES
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS EDUCATION Efforts will be made to teach Science, Mathematics and English on voluntary basis in institutions imparting instructions in Traditional Schools. Early Childhood Education Centres wherever possible will be set up in these schools and in areas pre-dominantly inhabited by educationally backward minorities. Socially Useful productive Work will also be introduced in these institutions. A central scheme of assistance will be prepared by the Department of Education for this purpose.
PRIMARY EDUCATION (i) Institutionalise system for compilation of statistical information required by Commissioner for Linguistic minorities regarding educational facilities. This would be done by State governments.
(ii) Eliminating delay in sanctioning of linguistic minority teachers' posts and appointment of teachers by delegation of powers to District Collectors. Action will be taken by the State Governments.
(iii) Survey on availability of text books in minority languages and setting up of printing facilities in minority languages. Action will be taken by the State Governments.
(iv) Survey on availability of teachers' training facilities for teachers in minority languages and measures to enhance such capacity wherever necessary. Action will be taken by the State Governments.
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(v) Efforts will be made to utilise 15% of the curricular time for training in local crafts/trades and to arrange evening classes for children of artisans/agricultural labourers.
MIDDLE AND HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION (i) A scheme for in-service training from minority institution teachers in Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences, English and Career guidance, through SCERT and other resource centres and State career guidance institutions. At present the NCERT has a scheme for such training courses. The proposal is to extend this activity through SCERTs and other above mentioned institutions.
(ii) A scheme for orientation courses for Managers and Principals of minorities institutions in modern educational techniques by SCERT. This is being done by NCERT at present on a small scale.
(iii) Scheme of appointment of regional language teachers in minority institutions for national- integration and for implementation of the Three Language Formula. This will be done by State Governments.
(iv) A scheme for remedial coaching in minority managed educational institutions. This will be done by State Governments.
(v) Minority managed educational institutions will be given a fair representation in the scheme for computer literacy in school education.
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (i) Provision of vocational courses in higher secondary schools specially catering to educationally backward minorities.
(ii) Ensuring that in all the programmes on technical and vocational education included in the policy, minority run institutions derive full benefit.
(iii) Setting up Crafts Training Institutes in identified minority artisan concentration blocks, with 80% seats for artisans' children.
WOMEN'S EDUCATION (i) As the women literacy and the girls enrolment is lowest among educationally backward minorities, in the schemes of opening of girls schools, appointment of lady teachers, opening of girls hostels' and providing of incentives in the form of mid-day meals, uniforms etc. Minorities needs should be fully met.
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(ii) A Production-cum-Training Centre for crafts exclusively for girls preferably with women instructors with the extent possible in each of the identified minority concentration districts. This will be done by State Governments.
VOLUNTARY EFFORT IN ADULT EDUCATION & EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Orientation courses for professionals from minority communities to motivate voluntary effort; attaching one centre to all minority institutions to create awareness of these schemes and to train supervisors for multiplier effect. This will be done by State Governments.
LIBRARIES, READING ROOMS AND EXTENSION WORK Scheme for encouraging setting up of libraries, reading rooms etc. in minority areas; pilot project for educational extension work in a few blocks on an experimental basis. This will be done by State Governments which will provide adequate finances for the purpose.
MINORITY MANAGED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (i) Clear guidelines for recognition and for timely disposal of applications. Each State Government to formulate its recognition policy and giving wide publicity to this.
(ii) Effective monitoring arrangement should be made to see the proper implementation of the programmes.
(iii) Scheme for setting up of a State-wise Federation of minority institutions, to help in seeking cooperation of minority institutions in effective implementation of educational uplift measures, in ensuring minimum infrastructure facilities, maintaining academic standards and protecting the interest of teachers; these bodies to be officially recognised and assisted.
AREA APPROACH Special attention to the illustrative list of 40 minority concentration districts in locating schools so that minority children have access in matters of admission. The list of 40 districts is appended. The State Governments may include other districts on the basis of the concentration of other educationally backward minorities.
SCHEME FOR SCHOLARSHIPS ETC. Scheme for Scholarships for weaker sections on merit-cummeans basis, with in-built system of placement in good institutions; fee exemption/fee concession/compensation for opportunity cost for artisans and other weaker sections; such help could be routed through Voluntary Societies of all India repute. To be implemented by State Governments.
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ORGANISATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES
(i) BENCH MARK SURVEY AND RESEARCH STUDIES Arranging Bench mark Survey and periodical surveys to assess the increase in literacy and in educational attainments; scheme for periodical research studies on various aspects to improve the effectiveness of remedial measures, especially relative availability of schools in minority concentration areas. This will be done by State Governments.
(ii) ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONALLY BACKWARD
MINORITIES WITH BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND OTHER ADVISORY
BODIES Educationally Backward minorities to be associated with various Education Boards and Advisory Committees at Central and State levels.
(iii) MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS A Cell will be created in the Union Education Department and in the State Education Departments to monitor effective implementation of these measures.
(iv) REVIEW There shall be a review of all minority education programmes every year.
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APPENDIX
LIST OF MUSLIM DOMINATED DISTRICTS
STATES DISTRICTS
UTTAR PRADESH 1. Rampur
2. Bijnor
3. Moradabad
4. Saharanpur
5. Muzaffarnagar
6. Meerut
7. Bahraich
8. Gonda
9. Ghaziabad
10. Pilibhit
11. Deoria
12. Barabanki
13. Basti
WEST BENGAL 14. Murshidabad
15. Malda
16. West Dinajpur
17. Birbhoom
18. Nadia
19. 24 Parganas
20. Cooch-Bihar
21. Howrah
KERALA 22. Malappuram
23. Kozhikode
24. Cannanorc
25. Palghat
26. Wyanad
BIHAR 27. Purnea
28. Katihar
29. Darbhanga
KARNATAKA 30. Bidar
31. Gulbarga
32. Bijapur
MAHARASHTRA 33. Greater Bombay
34. Aurangabad
ANDHRA PRADESH 35. Hyderabad
36. Kurnool
HARYANA 37. Gurgaon
MADHYA PRADESH 38. Bhopal
RAJASTHAN 39. Jaisalmer
GUJARAT 40. Kachch