The Minority Cell was, created in 2006 to look after problems of
minority communities. The cell plays an important and vital role
for implementation of NPE 1986, and Programme of Action (POA) 1992.
It is making efforts to bring out of school Muslim children within
the fold of education through alternative schooling by
accreditation of Maktabs and Madarsa. Minority Cell therefore has
become a major instrument of Policy Intervention for Government of
India for improving educational access for Muslim Minorities at
school level in the light of the recommendations of Sachchar
Committee and Prime Minister - 15 Point Programme.
The Minority Cell of NIOS grants accreditation on relaxed norms
especially developed for Minority Institutions. This has helped to
link traditional educational institutions of Muslims like Madarsas,
Maktabs and Darul-Ul-Uloom into mainstream education. The Minority
cell conducts Advocacy programmes for grant of accreditation and
for minority education
Madarsa Accredited With NIOS
| Type of Institutes |
No. of Centres (as on Feb
2021) |
| Accredited Institutes (AI) |
146 |
| Accredited Agencies (AA) |
221 |
| Accredited Vocational Institutions (AVI) |
47 |
| Total |
414 |
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Providing Quality Education in
Madarsas (SPQEM)
National policy on Education (NPE) has adopted the concept of
national system of education, implying that up to a certain level
all students irrespective of caste, creed, language or sex have
education of comparable quality. The national policy on education
commits itself to provide all possible means for the uplift of the
educationally backwards minorities. In order to provide them with
access to education in modern subjects, the central Government has
been implementing the Area intensive and Madarsa Modernisation
Scheme. The National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education
(NMCME) was constituted in 2004 to look into all aspects of
education of minorities. The Expert Committee has suggested that
madarssas be provided a linkage with the National Institute of Open
Schooling (NIOS) to provide for certification of academic levels,
linkage with vocational education, improving the quality of
education in modern subjects.
The objective of the scheme is to encourage traditional
institutes like Madarsas and Maktabs to introduce Science,
Mathematics, Social Studies, Hindi and English in their curriculum
(by giving financial assistance). However, the process of
modernization of traditional madarsas and maktabs will be
voluntary. Maktabs/Madarsas/Dar-ul-ulooms can opt to become
accredited study centers with the National Institute of Open
Schooling for offering Senior Secondary level programmes as well.
The scheme also will seek to provide opportunities for vocational
training for children studying in madrssas opting to enter the job
market and encourage entrepreneurship.The SPQEM is a demand driven
scheme. The scheme will endeavour to cover a total of 4,500 - 6,000
Madrassas and provide honorarium to about 13,500 -18000 teachers in
Madrassas all over the country during the 11th plan period.
For appointment of teachers for teaching Science, Mathematics,
Social Studies , languages , Computer Application and Science ,
each full time graduate teacher will be paid salary for 12 months @
Rs 6000/-p.m. . For strengthening the libraries / book banks at
primary / middle/ secondary and senior secondary levels one time
assistance upto Rs.50, 000/-followed by an annual grant of
Rs.5,000/- will be provided to each madrassa. For purchase of
Science kits, Maths, a grant up to a maximum amount of Rs.15000/-
will be provided. Financial assistance for establishment of science
/computer labs in Madrasas at the Secondary/Sr. Secondary levels a
maximum of Rs.10,000 will be provided. Financial assistance will be
provided to meet registration fees, examination fees and cost of
study materials supplied by the National Institute of Open
Schooling (NIOS) up to 100% for each student opting to study
through NIOS at Secondary and Senior Secondary levels. Madrassas
can also opt for vocational courses offered by NIOS after
fulfilling norms & standard set by NIOS.
Madarssas which have been in existence at least for three years
and registered under central or state government acts or Madarssa
Board or with Wakf Boards or NIOS shall be eligible to apply for
assistance under this programme. All madarssas opting to be covered
by distance education mode and availing of government grant will
need to be accredited with the NIOS. Madarssas applying for
financial assistance under the scheme to the state Government would
have to provide documentary evidence of their affiliation
/accreditation to the State Madarssa Boards/NIOS. The madarssas
would for this purpose send an application for
accreditation/affiliation to NIOS. The Central Government will
provide 100% funding for the scheme during the 11th plan. The
financial assistance will be given yearly under the scheme through
state governments/union territory administration in whose
jurisdiction the intuition is situated.
The scheme will be implemented by the State Governments. All
request for financial assistance shall, as a rule, be entertained
by the State Government in the prescribed Application Form.
Project HUNAR for Muslim Girls in Bihar (Completed)
NIOS started Project Hunar for Muslim girls in Bihar in
collaboration with Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) to impart
skill training to Muslim girls in seven vocational courses from
2008-09 session. A total of 13768 Muslim girls have been imparted
skill training in courses like Gram Sakhi, Cutting, Tailoring and
Dress Making, Basic Rural Technology, Jute Production, Bakery and
Confectionery, Beauty Culture and Early Childhood Care and
Education. For phase I, a tripartite MOU has been signed with three
Nodal Agencies to collaborate and co-operate with NIOS in
identifying and recommending institutions which could be granted
accreditations by NIOS for running the project. Out of 13768 girls,
11347 girls passed the examination and got certificate in
respective trades. It is interesting to mention that not even one
learner, dropped out of this programme.
Project HUNAR Phase II (Completed)
Seeing the success of this project, government of Bihar offered
NIOS to make it continuous for phase II and a target of 50,000 more
girls of Muslim, SCs, STs and Most Backward Community were targeted
for the session 2010-11. About 45,298 students enrolled and 12,252
appeared in the examination held on 23rd and 24th July 2011. Apart
from 298 accredited institutions under Hunar phase I, 723 new OBH
study centres have been accredited for running this programme.
These 723 OBH study centres are Model cluster schools, institutions
and NGOs as recommend by the BEPC.
Project HUNAR Delhi (Completed)
NIOS launched Hunar Programme in Delhi. Honorable Minister of
Human Resource Development, Sh. Kapil Sibal and Chief Minister of
Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit besides other dignitaries inaugurated
the launch of this programme at a function held on 26th February,
2011 at Delhi. Around 16 agencies have been accredited under this
programme to enroll and provide skill training to the girls free of
cost. Around 1600 girls have been enrolled in these agencies. Out
of which 600 learners appeared in the examination and 267 were
declared certified.