Scheme for Muslims' education to be launched

An initiative to impart basic education as also vocational skill development for the Muslim population is being launched, an official release said Tuesday.

"Maulana Azad Taleem-e-Balighan is being launched to impart functional literacy, basic education, vocational skill development and continuing education to cover about one crore Muslim adults in the age group of 15 years and above," the release by the ministry of human resource development said.

The statement said the results of the various schemes aimed at promoting education among minorities have been "quite encouraging".

"The enrolment of Muslim children at the primary level has increased from 9.4 percent in 2006-07 to 14.2 percent in 2012-13," the release said.

It added the enrolment at the upper primary level has gone up from 7.2 percent to 12.1 percent during the same period.

It further said the government implemented various minority education schemes aimed at the Muslim population.

"Fifteen percent of the outlay under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is targeted at the Minority Concentration Districts (MCD) to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education, to meet infrastructure gaps for schools, classrooms, teachers and providing access by opening new schools," it said.

Other initiatives benefiting minorities and the Muslim population include the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas, the scheme of Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutions and the establishment of model degree colleges, women's hostels and polytechnics in MCDs.