Even as the Government is sitting over the proposal to set up a Central Madrasa Board, the HRD Ministry is coming out with a less controversial madrasa modernisation scheme which would include provisions to introduce “modern” subjects like computer science and mathematics.

The proposed scheme being voluntary in nature, the ministry hopes most madarsas would opt for it as the scheme includes a hiked pay package for madrasa teachers at par with government teachers.

The scheme would be worth Rs 625 crore and is learnt to have got the clearance of the Finance Ministry. The fully centrally funded scheme will be implemented through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

The Government also proposes to make those madrasas, with a Minority Status Certificate, on par with NIOS study centres.It moots to train madrasa teachers under the District Institute of Education and Training.

The NCMEI proposal had insisted on eradicating gender- based educational disparity and discussed adopting a “non-polemical” approach to other religions. Many Muslim organisations had protested on the ground that it would harm the very spirit of the religious character of madrasas.