New scheme for Madaris students may be unveiled

While the Madaris registration controversy is still lingering on, the government is likely to unveil a new scheme for seminary students at the national level, making certain modern subjects compulsory for issuance of SSC and HSSC equivalent certificates, it is reliably learnt.
The education ministry, sources said, is in consultation with provinces and heads of seminaries to implement the plan aimed at equipping the students with modern knowledge. In the aftermath of September 11 terror attacks on the United States, President General Pervez Musharraf had launched a Rs 5 billion Madressah reforms project to streamline seminaries and incentives were announced for registration with the Wafaqul Madaris.
The government is making hectic efforts to introduce modern subjects along with religious education in seminaries, inviting mix response from seminaries leadership who has accepted the proposal of adding science and computer subjects to their curricula to some extent.
"We have prepared a new scheme of studies for seminary students and a proposal to make subject of mathematics, English, Pakistan Studies and science compulsory is under due consideration for issuance of SSC and HSSC equivalent certificates," sources told Business Recorder. They said that the government had earlier decided to make mathematics a compulsory subject and general science an optional subject.