Relevant local self-government institutions should ensure that children studying in state religious study centers receive free and compulsory elementary education, said Kerala State Commission for Human Rights Protection of the child.

The commission of members K. Nazeer and Babitha B. recently instructed the secretary of local self-government, the director of the Panchayat and the director of the municipality to give instructions to the institutions of local self-government to take the measures necessary in this regard.

They also stated that all local self-government institutions should take steps to deal with complaints related to the Children’s Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, as stated in Article 32 of the law.

The commission was acting on a complaint from a resident of Thiruvananthapuram that the Al Fitr Islamic Nursery School in Nallalam in Kozhikode only admitted pupils of a particular religious background, had its own curriculum which was not not recognized by the Department of Education, brought in people from abroad to train its teachers, and had inadequate facilities for students. Such a system ran counter to a secular perspective, the complainant alleged.

Kozhikode’s Deputy Director of Education’s report to the commission said the school had been recognized by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions. The students belonged to the Muslim community. In addition to studies, two hours had been reserved for the study of the Koran. The program includes Islamic subject and Hifz. The school, however, had no vehicle or playground.

The district child protection officer’s report says the school is prioritizing Islamic knowledge, while the district police chief recommends looking into prescribing too many textbooks for children. students. The school principal denied any violation of the laws by the school.

The commission found no violations of laws or children’s rights and observed that the school had a license from the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions and therefore did not pass any special orders in this case.

Many state institutions provided religious education for children; they also followed their own curriculum and teaching style. However, it is the responsibility of the State to ensure that children placed in these establishments benefit from free and compulsory elementary education in accordance with the RTE law.

Article 21 A of the Constitution also promised such education. Therefore, no child should be denied the opportunity to study. Local self-government bodies should ensure that these institutions provide basic education to children.