<p>In a significant move, the Assam government has made a sweeping change by renaming and repurposing over a thousand Madrasas across the state. State officials have revealed that a total of 1281 Madrasas spanning 31 districts have been transformed into general schools.</p>
<p>This decision, announced by Assam’s Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on his social media, sparked many conversations about the government’s approach to education.</p>
<p>Taking to his official handle on X, Pegu wrote, "Consequent to the conversion of all Government and Provincialized Madrasas into general schools under the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), the Department of School Education, Assam has changed the names of 1281 ME Madrasas into Middle English (ME) School by a notification today."</p>
<p>The order shared by Pegu further outlined that, as per the approval of the state government, the nomenclature of the 1281 Upper Primary Schools ME Madrassa under the Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, shall now be known as ME School with immediate effect."</p>
<p>The move comes after legislation passed by the Assam government in January 2021, allowing government-run Madrasas in the state to transition into general schools.</p>
<p>While private Madrasas remain unaffected, this decision has had a direct impact on 731 Madrasas and Arabic colleges associated with the State Madrasa Education Board, Assam Higher Secondary Education Council, and Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA).</p>
<p>In a rally held in Karnataka back in March this year, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that his government had already closed 600 Madrasas and expressed his intention to shut down all Madrasas. (Video clip)</p>
<p>This development has ignited discussions on the intersection of education, policy, and religious institutions in Assam.</p>