Abul Kalam is a resident of Kalapara of Patuakhali district.
He himself pursued general education, but two of his children are studying at
Alia madrasas. He says that he got his children admitted in madrasas to ensure
religious education along with modern teaching.
“In our time, madrasas would only impart religious education.
But now, same books are used in schools and Alia madrasas. In addition,
religious subjects are taught in madrasas. Both modern and religious teachings
are available in madrasas. And, there are high-quality madrasas in the country
nowadays. Madrasa students are becoming doctors and engineers. Considering all
the aspects, I have sent my kids to madrasas,” Kalam told Bonik Barta.
Kalam is not the only one, rather a significant number of
guardians in recent years have opted for madrasas for their children’s
education. There exists two types of madrasas in the country – Alia and Qawmi. Bangladesh
Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), a government
organization, preserves data on Alia madrasas. According to its latest report that
covers the statistics of 2022, from Ibtedai (primary equivalent) to Kamil
(equivalent to post graduation), a total of 4,020,690 students were studying in
country’s Alia madrasas. This figure is the highest in last 20 years. In 2019,
the number was 3,806,336. In last four years, the students at Alia madrasas
went up by 214,354 or 5.63 percent.
The number of Qawmi madrasa students also increased alongside
Alia. The Qawmi madrasa activities are currently run under six boards. Qawmi
Madrasa Education Board (Befaq) is considered the largest board of all. The
number of students in the madrasas under this board went up by nearly 100,000
in last three years.
People concerned say that textbooks for Alia madrasas and
schools are almost identical. A section of madrasa students in last few years
succeeded in the university-level admission tests, including Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and medical colleges. On the
other hand, some Qawmi madrasas have agreements with some foreign Islamic
universities allowing the students to study in those institutions. And, many
people from poor background are choosing Qawmi madrasas due to less expenses.
Aside from the religious aspect, these are the driving forces to increase the
number of madrasa students in the country.
“People have now become more religious. Therefore, they want
to educate their children in religious education,” said Maulana Abdul Halim,
director of education department at Brahmanbaria’s Darul Arkam Al Islamia.
“Besides, madrasa education has been modernized to meet the
demand of the time. For instance, our madrasa provides advanced facilities,
including computer lab and science lab. Over one hundred of our students are
now studying at different universities abroad, including Al-Azhar University of
Egypt. This is encouraging others to get admitted in madrasas,” he said.
Maulana Halim said, “Many more madrasas now ensure modern
education alongside religious teaching to prepare the students to adjust with
the time. There was a perception earlier that madrasa student cannot do well in
jobs. But, that is not the case anymore.”
“At present, there are madrasas with the same facilities
offered by the kindergartens and English-medium schools. And, there are
madrasas for low-income people. Madrasa education is no more confined to a
specific class,” he added.
Maulana Zia Uddin, head of Azad Dini Adarah-E-Talim Bangladesh,
a Qawmi education board based in Sylhet, believes that the popularity of
religious education is the main reason behind the increase of madrasa students.
“Religious education has become popular as demand of the time. This is why the
number is increasing day by day. Keeping this in mind, we are considering to
bring newness to our curriculum,” he said.
A large segment of the guardians says that their financial capability
has diminished due to Covid-19 pandemic. They are sending their children to
Qawmi madrasas as they cannot afford other educational institutions.
Mohammad Yakub Ali of Laxmipur sadar is one of such guardians.
Three of his four children are attending Qawmi madrasas. Yakub, a day laborer,
said that he sent the children to madrasas owing to the lack of affordability.
The children used to attend schools before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chittagong division has the highest number of madrasa students
in the country. A total of 545,614 students are attending madrasas in the
division followed by 377,285 students in Dhaka division. Rangpur has 361,266
students, Barishal 322,386, Rangpur 296,486, Mymensingh 214,201, Rajshahi
350,401 and Sylhet has 161,083 madrasa students.
Ziaul Ahsan, director (training and development) of Directorate
of Madrasa Education, told Bonik Barta, “Madrasa education has witnessed significant
development in last few years. There is no difference between madrasa and
school education. Many madrasas with advanced facilities have been established.
These are the reasons behind the increase in number of students. We work mainly
on Alia madrasas, so it is difficult to comment on Qawmi madrasas. Many are
sending their children to madrasas considering religious aspects. And, it is
cheaper to get education at Qawmi madrasas that also provide food and boarding.
Maybe, this why people with low income are choosing Qawmi madrasas.”
Educationists are of the opinion that poverty and cost of
general education are playing a major role in the increase of madrasa students.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, many guardians are sending their children to
madrasas as the budget for education sector is small and the cost of education
is gradually on the rise.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, chairperson of Education Watch and
chairman of Dhaka University’s School of Economics, said, “There should be a research
on the issue. The education budget is not adequate and the cost of education is
increasing every day.”
Like in the district towns, low income parents in the capital
are sending their children to Qawmi madrasas. While visiting a few madrasas in
the capital’s Mirpur and Mohammadpur areas, it was found that many madrasas are
conducting their activities in one single flat of an apartment building or one
or rooms of flat. Having talked to students and guardians, it was seen that the
most of them belong to low income group. They opted for Qawmi madrasas because
their children can have education with food and accommodation cheaply.
“I maintain my family by working at house and restaurant. I
get out of my home in the morning and return in the evening. There is nobody to
look after my son. I have to worry if he is left alone at home. That is why I got
him enrolled at a madrasa nearby. He is getting educated and I do not have to
worry about him,” said Rina Akter, a mother.
In Alia madrasas, the number of students increased the most at
Ibtedai level in last five years. According to Directorate of Primary
Education, the number of Ibtedai students went up by more than double in last
five years. In 2018, the number was 35,849. The figure went up to 72,631 in
2022, registering an increase of over 100 percent.
Professor Shah Muhammad Alamgir, inspector of Bangladesh
Madrasa Education Board, said, “There might be three reasons for the increase
of madrasa students. Firstly, same books are used in schools and madrasas from
2014. But, in madrasas, four religious subjects are taught. That means, madrasa
students are learning more. Secondly, for religious reasons, every guardian
wants their children to receive religious education. Thirdly, society has a
positive attitude towards the madrasa students.”
“As far as Qawmi madrasas are concerned, it is difficult to
say. However, the cost of education may play a big role here,” he added.
According to Rangpur District Education Office, there are over
200 Qawmi madrasas in the district. There are five Kamil madrasas, 30 Fajil
madrasas, 26 Alim madrasas and 192 Dakhil madrasas. In last five years, the
number of madrasas and madrasa students went up. ANM Hadiuzzaman, principal of
Dhap Satgara Baitul Mokarram Model Kamil Madrasa in Rangpur, said, “Many
parents think as the standards are same it is better to get the children
educated in madrasas. At this, the children can receive religious teachings
alongside modern education.”
“The number of madrasa students is going up due to the
implementation of the new curriculum. The infrastructures of madrasas are being
developed and modernized. Computer labs are being set up. Besides, madrasa
teachers are being trained. All these aspects are aiding the increase of
students,” Rangpur District Education Officer Enayet Hossain said.
Top education officials and policymakers of the government
feel that the overall participation in education has increased. The number of
madrasa students is going up as part of that. But, more researches are needed
to examine the whole of the issue.
“The overall participation in education has enhanced in our
country. As part of that the number of Alia madrasa students has gone up. As
main stream education is practiced in Alia madrasas, increase of students is a
positive aspect,” Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel told Bonik
Barta.
“Right now, I am not informed about Qawmi madrasas. Without
information with me, I am unable to comment,” he said.