India: NCPCR Submits Affidavit Against Madrasa Education System

On September 11, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India, raising concerns about the constitutionality of the Madrasa education system, Jurist News reported yesterday. The NCPCR highlighted discrepancies in the quality of education between mainstream institutions governed by the Right to Education (RTE) Act and Madrasas, which operate outside its purview.

The affidavit stated that Madrasas violate the RTE Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, asserting that children educated in these institutions lack essential knowledge from the standard school curriculum. The RTE Act, enacted in 2009, guarantees the right to education for children aged six to fourteen.

Earlier this year, the Allahabad High Court deemed the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act unconstitutional for breaching secularism principles. However, the Supreme Court issued a stay on this ruling, pending further deliberation. The NCPCR allegedly aims to ensure access to quality education, particularly for disadvantaged children across India.