Madrasas keen on modern education: minister

Hyderabad, Dec 5 (UNI) The Deeni Madrasas in Andhra Pradesh are keen to pursue modern education under the Prime Minister's 15-point programme, Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer said today.

Unlike in other parts of the country, as many as 520 Madrasas had signed an MoU with the government for imparting modern education, including computer education, he told reporters here.

As many as 258 computers had been distributed so far to ''Deeni Madrasas'' to equip themselves to train them in collaboration with IT majors, including Infosys, for jobs in the IT industry, he said.

He announced that students of all ''Deeni Madrasas'', both registered and unregistered, would be provided free passes to travel by state-owned road transport corporation buses from today.

Reiterating the government's commitment to minority students' uplift as suggested by the Sachchar Committee, he said 4.70 lakh students, including 1.75 lakh students pursuing education in Urdu medium, would be given scholarships and their tuition fees reimbursed by January 15. A budgetary allocation of Rs 90 crore was made for the purpose, he said, adding as many as 16 new hostel buildings, including five for girls, would be constructed this year.

As many as 12 residential schools would be started this year for the benefit of minorities, he added.

UNI