The Assam government has officially renamed 1281 Madrasas across 31 districts in the state, converting them into general schools. The decision, part of a ‘broader initiative to transform government-run Madrasas into mainstream educational institutions’, was announced by the state education minister, Ranoj Pegu.
Taking to his social media handle, Pegu shared the information, stating, “Consequent to the conversion of all Government and Provincialised Madrasas into general schools under Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), the Department of School Education, Assam has changed the names of 1281 ME Madrasas into Middle English (ME) School by a notification today.”
The order issued by Pegu clarified, “As per approval of the state government, the nomenclature of the 1281 Upper Primary Schools ME Madrassa under Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, shall be known as ME School with immediate effect.”
This development follows the legislative move by the Assam government in January 2021, allowing government-run Madrasas in the state to transition into general schools. The impact of this decision extended to 731 Madrasas and Arabic colleges associated with the State Madrasa Education Board, Assam Higher Secondary Education Council, and Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA).
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during a rally in Karnataka in March, declared, “We have closed 600 Madrasas, and we intend to close all Madrasas because we prefer educational institutions over Islamic religious centres.”
