Andhra govt to introduce modern subjects in madrasas through 500 education volunteers

Breaking away from tradition, the Andhra Pradesh government has unveiled a plan to introduce modern subjects like English, science, and mathematics in madrasas by appointing 500 education volunteers.

These subject experts will be hired on a contract basis, with an estimated budget of ₹15 crore allocated for the initiative.

While madrasas have historically focused on religious teachings in Arabic and Urdu, the government now aims to bridge the gap between religious and mainstream education.

As part of this effort, the mid-day meal scheme will also be implemented in 174 madrasas registered under the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE).

A similar attempt was previously made by the YSRCP-led government, which had proposed forming an independent Madrasa Board to coordinate educational reforms.

Although it was presented as a supportive mechanism, the proposal faced opposition from ulemas and maulanas, who feared it would lead to excessive government interference.

Consequently, many madrasas chose not to register with the education department, foregoing access to schemes like the mid-day meal.

Functioning mostly as private institutions funded by donations from Muslim philanthropists, some madrasas have been accused of financial mismanagement.

There are also claims that while poor and orphaned children are limited to religious studies within these institutions, the children of madrasa leaders attend English-medium schools, gaining access to modern education.

Despite past resistance, a few madrasas have shown interest in adopting academic subjects and participating in welfare programs.

This marks a potential shift toward integrating religious institutions into the larger educational landscape of the state.