IMO News Service
Mumbai: The ‘Muslim Educational Conference’, organized by Maulana Azad Vichar Manch, concluded in Mumbai on May 30, 2013. Maulana Azad Vichar Manch is headed by Member of Parliament Husain Dalwai.
The conference was inaugurated by Vice President of India, M.Hamid Ansari on May 29, 2013. The Governor, Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Minister of Minorities Affairs also participated in the 2-day conference.
Ansari said that it is incumbent on Muslims to adopt modern education to overcome their social and economic backwardness. "(Lack of) Education is the biggest impediment to the community's progress, prosperity and empowerment," he said.
He said many Muslim communities in India are not laying stress on the need to acquire education, and through it knowledge, even though Islam puts great importance on education and learning.
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Quoting a scholar, Ansari said: “The modern period of Islamic history begins with decadence from within and intrusion and menace from without. The quest for knowledge has been replaced by apologetics.”
According to Ansari, the Muslims of India have been deprived of several benefits available to others owing to their educational backwardness.
He observed that the lack of education “has led to higher unemployment, rampant underemployment, confinement to traditional, low-paying professions, and under-representation in the modern organised business sector” among Muslims.
The enrolment of Muslim children at the primary level has improved. However the dropout rate remains high. Ansari called for introspection and corrective action and cited the example of Muslim nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey which are prospering owing to an educated population.
The concluding session of the conference was addressed by Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal. Eminent experts like Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, Executive Director,USIPI, Washington DC, Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Member Planning Commission, academicians, activists and over three thousand delegates attended the conference.
Speaking on the occasion Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Law and Information Technology said that he has come here as a human being rather than a Minister and ready to fight for the cause of Muslim education. He stressed upon he modernization of education system. He also stressed upon the ‘Neighbourhood School’ confept and ‘Naional Knowledge Network’.
Speaking on the occasion Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission spoke on the demands of Muslim youth in respect of vocational and technical education. He stressed upon the need for a national data bank and monitoring authority for minorities especially Muslims. He also suggested expansin of ITI’s in Muslim dominated districts of the country.
Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission expressed their views on strategy for education of Muslim girls. She explained the problems being faced by Muslim community in getting the benefits of various schemes.
The other subjects discussed includes ‘Utilisation of AUKAF Fund for Education of Muslims and Challenges faced by Muslim Educational Institutions and Solutions and Muslim OBCs/Dalits and affirmative action required.
The conference unanimously passed a resolution and desired that this type conference must be held regularly.
Husain Dalwai, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), presided over the conference. Mr. Dalwai thanked all the participants for attending the conference and sharing their views.
Over 1,500 delegates deliberated on strategies for vocational and technical education, teaching Muslim girls and the utilisation of Wakf funds for education at the two-day conference.
Mumbai: The ‘Muslim Educational Conference’, organized by Maulana Azad Vichar Manch, concluded in Mumbai on May 30, 2013. Maulana Azad Vichar Manch is headed by Member of Parliament Husain Dalwai.
The conference was inaugurated by Vice President of India, M.Hamid Ansari on May 29, 2013. The Governor, Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Minister of Minorities Affairs also participated in the 2-day conference.
Ansari said that it is incumbent on Muslims to adopt modern education to overcome their social and economic backwardness. "(Lack of) Education is the biggest impediment to the community's progress, prosperity and empowerment," he said.
He said many Muslim communities in India are not laying stress on the need to acquire education, and through it knowledge, even though Islam puts great importance on education and learning.
According to Ansari, the Muslims of India have been deprived of several benefits available to others owing to their educational backwardness.
He observed that the lack of education “has led to higher unemployment, rampant underemployment, confinement to traditional, low-paying professions, and under-representation in the modern organised business sector” among Muslims.
The enrolment of Muslim children at the primary level has improved. However the dropout rate remains high. Ansari called for introspection and corrective action and cited the example of Muslim nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey which are prospering owing to an educated population.
The concluding session of the conference was addressed by Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal. Eminent experts like Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, Executive Director,USIPI, Washington DC, Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Member Planning Commission, academicians, activists and over three thousand delegates attended the conference.
Speaking on the occasion Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Law and Information Technology said that he has come here as a human being rather than a Minister and ready to fight for the cause of Muslim education. He stressed upon he modernization of education system. He also stressed upon the ‘Neighbourhood School’ confept and ‘Naional Knowledge Network’.
Speaking on the occasion Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission spoke on the demands of Muslim youth in respect of vocational and technical education. He stressed upon the need for a national data bank and monitoring authority for minorities especially Muslims. He also suggested expansin of ITI’s in Muslim dominated districts of the country.
Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission expressed their views on strategy for education of Muslim girls. She explained the problems being faced by Muslim community in getting the benefits of various schemes.
The other subjects discussed includes ‘Utilisation of AUKAF Fund for Education of Muslims and Challenges faced by Muslim Educational Institutions and Solutions and Muslim OBCs/Dalits and affirmative action required.
The conference unanimously passed a resolution and desired that this type conference must be held regularly.
Husain Dalwai, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), presided over the conference. Mr. Dalwai thanked all the participants for attending the conference and sharing their views.
Over 1,500 delegates deliberated on strategies for vocational and technical education, teaching Muslim girls and the utilisation of Wakf funds for education at the two-day conference.