Senior Madrasah Education System
This education system is a balanced blend of moral teaching-learning (Theology and Islamic Culture) with modern education (Science and Technology). The reformation and modernization has been done following the recommendations of the Review Committee 1978 (chaired by Prof. Mustafa-Bin-Quasim) and Madrasah Education Committee 2002 (chaired by Dr. A.R.Kidwai). The curriculum and syllabus ( from Primary to Post Graduate) have been restructured with a view to open access to higher education, employment possibilities and social opportunities. The Senior Madrasahs running from class I to class X are called Alim Madrasahs and the Madrasahs from class I to class XII are called Fazil Madrasahs. In addition to Language, Social Science & Science subjects like Bengali / Urdu, English, Mathematics, Life Science, Physical Science, History and Geography the subjects like Arabic, Islamic Theology (Hadith, Tafsir and Fiqh) are also taught at Alim level (10th class standard). At Fazil level (12th standard) Bengali/Urdu, English, Arabic and Theology are compulsory subjects. The students are also offered the opportunities to choose two elective subjects from the following list namely:
A separate teaching & non-teaching staff recruitment commission namely Madrasah Service Commission has also been established.
Board has received recognition at national and international level. Recently the Hon’ble members of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission proposed that the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education may recognize Madrasahs (without any aid ) in the state of Karnataka under Educational Model and Curriculum and syllabus of the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education. Recently the Brookings Doha Centre, Washington has held up Bengal’s Madrasahs as models of secularism and also said that Pakistan, where the radical Islamisation is blamed a great deal on Madrasahs, should learn from such Madrasahs in West Bengal and emulate them. The study says “In other parts of the Muslim World, Madrasahs have served an appropriate educational purpose. For example in West Bengal, India, a survey of Islamic schools in January 2009 found that because of higher quality of education at Madrasahs, even Non-Muslims were actively enrolling in them”.
One is School Education system and other is Madrasah Education system. In Madrasah Education system two categories of institutions are functioning: one is recognized by the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education and aided by the Govt. of West Bengal with entire liability of Salary, Retirement and other benefits (Gratuity, Pension, Leave etc.) of teaching and non-teaching staff. The Govt. also bear financial liabilities for infrastructure development, incentives and other facilities i.e. free text books, sanitation and drinking water etc.
The other category of Madrasahs are established, run and maintained by the individual or by community or by organization etc. and those are called Muktab or Khariji Madrasahs.
For the first , institutions recognized by Board two types of Madrasah Education are functioning in the state namely:
i) the new scheme –High Madrasah Education System
ii) the old scheme-Senior Madrasah Education System
Subject Name
- History
- Islamic History
- Islamic Studies ( Fiqh, Usul-e-Fiqh, Kalam and Faraiz)
- Political Science
- Modern Computer Application
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Biological Science
- Economics
- Geography
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Philosophy
- Education
- Accountancy
- Business Organisation and Management
- Economic Geography
- Home Management and Home Nursing
- Nutrition
- Business Economics including Business Mathematics
- Persian
- Fine Arts and Crafts