‘Maktab’ to be dropped from names of 63 schools in Assam: Himanta

February 22: “There were 63 such schools in Assam which write the word ‘maktab’ in their names. In this regard, the state government has passed an order that these schools will have to drop the word ‘maktab’ from their names,” said Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Maktab is a traditional Islamic elementary school, primarily teaching literacy and the Quran.

As per the new direction, the old name of the school will remain sans the word ‘Maktab’. The Minister said, “The name of the schools used to cause a problem for students who went to take admission in higher classes in general schools after studying in ‘maktab’ schools. The authorities often turned them down saying how can they study in a general schools after learning religious education for so many years?”

Earlier, the Assam government decided to shut down all state-run madrassas and Sanskrit tols and convert them into regular schools within a period of six months. “If someone is teaching religion using own money that is no problem, but if state funding is used to teach the Quran, then we have to teach Gita, Bible as well.