For the first time ever Kathmandu recognises Madrassa
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) –The Madrassa, or Muslim schools, were officially recognised this Monday by Nepals Ministry for education. Children on leaving the Muslim primary schools will now be able to enter into state schools, whereas before they were forced to leave for Islamic Countries. Of the schools in Banke district – circa 400 kilometres west of Kathmandu – one in five are primary schools.
For the first time ever the District Education Office (Deo), subsection of Nepal’s Education Ministry, has officially approved 58 Muslim schools. The local Muslim community immediately greeted the news with enthusiasm defining it a “democratic decision”. Chair man of Madrassa federation, Maulan Jabbar Manjari said, “a decade long hope and four long years` struggle has come true”, Mohamed Harun Federation spokesman added “it is justice to the minority Muslim children, who were deprived of main stream education from years'”.
The chief district officer, Chudamani Poudel, said the government intends other development programmes to aid the local minority Muslim community, starting with free text books for the 6,000 students, for now.
Since 1995 the Nepalese government attempts to have the Madrassa officially recognised have been numerous, but upon till now no concrete steps had been taken, due to the nations proclaimed Hinduism. Inter-religiosity has increased dramatically in Nepal since the King abdicated and the nation declared itself secular on May 8th 2006.
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