A study finds that Muslim-run institutions maintain high quality of education which is the reason for the presence of significant Hindu students in these colleges.
Syed Ali Mujtaba
CHENNAI – A study of the country’s public and private institutions of higher education managed by Muslims has revealed a startling fact that Hindu students in them clearly outnumber their Muslim counterparts.
The joint study conducted by Delhi-based think tank – Centre for Study and Research (CSR) and NOUS Network Private Limited – finds that Hindu students comprise more than 55 percent of the total student population in Muslim colleges. In contrast, the enrollment of Muslims is only 42 percent in such colleges.
The report says this trend is consistent across universities and colleges managed by the Muslim community across the country.
The study finds that Muslim-run institutions underscore the inclusive nature of these institutions and maintain high quality of education which is the reason for the presence of significant Hindu students in these colleges.
The study also provides insights into the programmes offered by Muslim-affiliated educational institutions in India. It points out that there is no religious component in the pedagogy of such Muslim-run institutions. “These institutions are temples of secular education,” says Mohammad Rizwan, the director of CSR.
The study presents the enrollment pattern and gender distribution of Muslim students in minority-run educational institutions. The study also highlights the issue of enrollment and dropout rates among Muslim students.
The report also emphasised addressing socio-economic and educational challenges faced by the Muslim community. The report suggests policy interventions are needed to address this disparity and also suggests improving the accessibility of education to Muslim students.
The study concludes with recommendations for policymakers to address the underrepresentation of Muslims in higher education and implement policies to enhance educational opportunities for the Muslim community.
The CSR is a non-profit organisation to produce knowledge in all fields that impact human lives in India. It monitors changes in cultural, political, and social spheres and provides practical solutions to the problems at hand.
NOUS Network Private Limited is a think tank-media house. It aims to reconstruct the discourse around human rights, development, culture, politics, and religion.
