Government sanctions Rs.3.25 bn for upgrading madrassas

New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) The Indian government Friday sanctioned Rs.3.25 billion ($69.2 million) for upgrading madrassas under a scheme for providing quality education in these institutions by introducing subjects like maths and English.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs, at a meeting here presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cleared the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrassas (SPQEM), Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters.

'The scheme is meant to encourage traditional institutions like Madrassas/Maktabs/Darululooms to introduce science, mathematics, social studies and English in their curriculum,' the minister said.

'This will ensure that academic proficiency is attainable for children of classes I-XII studying in these institutions,' Chidambaram said.

The scheme also provides for linkages with the National Institutions of Open Schooling (NIOS) 'in order to acquire education comparable to the national education system', the minister added.