Government Urged to End Discrimination in Madrasa Education: Islami Andolan

Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Secretary General, Principal Hafez Maulana Yunus Ahmed, has called on the government to take immediate action to eliminate deep-rooted inequalities in the madrasa education sector.

In a statement released to the media, Yunus Ahmed highlighted alarming data from the 'Education Statistics 2024,' noting that the percentage of trained madrasa teachers has plummeted to just 9.19%—the lowest in 13 years. This stands in stark contrast to the 66.10% training rate in secondary general education.

"The state cannot discriminate against its own people in this manner," Ahmed stated. "While general education benefits from Primary Training Institutes (PTIs) in every district, madrasa teachers lack similar infrastructure. We demand that training centers be established in every district. As an immediate fix, the government should allow madrasa teachers to utilize existing district PTIs."

The IAB leader further criticized the disparity in student welfare. He pointed out that while primary school students receive stipends, clothing, and mid-day meals, madrasa students are largely excluded from these benefits.

"It is shameful that students are treated differently based on their choice of education," Ahmed added. "The spirit of the Great Liberation War and the July Uprising was to build a Bangladesh free of discrimination. The government must ensure equal opportunities for all citizens."