The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education is contemplating a significant change in the examination process for religious schools. Officials have announced that they are considering using government intermediate colleges as examination centers instead of Madrasas. A final decision on this matter will be made in an upcoming board meeting scheduled for July.
Qamar Ali, a member of the Madrasa Board and in-charge of the examination control room in Lucknow, revealed that the board is planning to implement this change from the next academic session. Some intermediate colleges have already been designated as examination centers on a trial basis. Previously, examinations were conducted within the Madrasas themselves. However, the board encountered issues such as Internet connectivity problems and practical difficulties in the Madrasas. Additionally, the principals and managers of the Madrasas often evaded responsibility by citing resource shortages.
The decision to shift examination centers to government intermediate colleges aligns with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s objective of conducting copying-free examinations. By utilizing these colleges, the board aims to overcome the aforementioned challenges faced in Madrasas. Furthermore, starting from the next session, all examination centers in the district will be linked to a control room monitored by minority welfare officers. These control rooms will be connected to the Madrasa Board’s control room, holding the minority welfare officer accountable for any discrepancies that arise.
Presently, there are 539 examination centers where Madrasa board examinations take place. However, monitoring all centers simultaneously has proven to be difficult. To address this issue, starting next year, examinations will be held on a division-wise basis, enabling easier identification of anomalies.
During recent examinations held in Lucknow, Kannauj, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Mau, and Ambedkar Nagar, some shortcomings were identified. These included a lack of seating arrangements for examinees and instances of duty personnel being absent from their posts.
Uttar Pradesh is home to a total of 16,531 Madrasas registered with the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education, with 558 of them receiving government aid.
The potential shift in examination centers from Madrasas to intermediate colleges represents a paradigm shift for religious schools in Uttar Pradesh. It aims to address the challenges faced by Madrasas while ensuring fair and efficient conduct of examinations. The decision will be finalized after the board meeting in July, signaling a potential transformation in the educational landscape of the state.
