Residents stress the need for consultation, transparency, and respect for community sentiments during the implementation of the new policy framework
KHATIIMA — The Uttarakhand government’s decision to abolish the Madrasa Board and introduce a new “State Minority Education Authority” under a common NCERT-based curriculum has triggered mixed reactions among residents in the border town of Khatiima.
The policy, announced under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is projected to aim to bring Madrasa education into a more standardised framework aligned with mainstream schooling. Officials argue that the move will help ensure uniform educational standards for all students across the state.
Reactions on the ground, however, have been divided. Several residents welcomed the step, saying it could improve educational opportunities for minority children and help them compete at a national level.
One resident, Shakur Rahman, supported the decision, saying: “This historic decision taken by the Chief Minister will prove highly beneficial for the youth of the minority community. When these students complete their education and enter the world, they will not only have religious education but also worldly education. They will be able to serve the country in different ways. I believe this should be implemented across the entire country.”
Another resident, Kamil Khan, also expressed support for the new system and thanked the Chief Minister. He said: “First of all, I want to thank the Chief Minister for this historic decision. Behind this step lies a forward-looking vision that connects minority children with the mainstream by ending the Madrasa Board system.”
He further added: “Whatever the child studies will now be under the Minority Education Development Authority and through NCERT. A Muslim child of the minority community, who was earlier deprived of subjects like Hindi, English and NCERT-based education, will now be able to receive both religious and modern education together.”
However, not all responses were fully supportive. Some residents emphasised that while educational reform may be beneficial, it should be implemented after proper consultation with minority communities and with respect for their concerns.
They said that any change in the education system must ensure transparency and trust so that the purpose of reform benefits all sections of society equally, without creating division or misunderstanding.
