The number of students enrolled in the madrasas has sharply declined in Uttar Pradesh. According to the reports, since 2016, the number of madrasa students has dropped by 3 lakh in the state.

The new generation's interest in studying in the madrasas of Uttar Pradesh is decreasing continuously. India Today, quoting the figures of the Madrasa Education Council, reported that the number of students registered in secondary and senior classes has reduced by more than three lakhs during the last six years.

According to the report, in 2016, 4 lakh 22 thousand 627 students registered in the state's secondary and senior secondary classes. However, this year, it has come down to 92,000, recording a decrease of 3.30 lakhs in these six years.

The local sources informed the Organiser that the improved infrastructure facilities of the government-run schools might be one of the reasons behind this phenomenon. The state-run schools are now attracting more students.

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) substantiates this claim as the state saw a 13.2% increase in the number of children (aged 6-14 years) in government schools between 2018 and 2021. As per the 16th ASER released last year, 43.1% of the school-going children were admitted to government schools in Uttar Pradesh in 2018. This number rose to 49.7% in 2020 and 56.3% in 2021. While the percentage of school-going children admitted to government schools was less than the national average of 70.3%, the increase in enrollment was the highest in the country during the period.

“The enrolment in government schools over the last couple of years reflects the focus on education in the state. The state government took steps like easy enrolment of children of migrant workers who returned home during the first wave of the pandemic, transfer of money into accounts of parents via Direct Benefit Transfer to purchase bags, shoes, sweaters, and uniforms for children along with easy accessibility led to the rise in enrolment,” UP primary education minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi told media persons last year.

Poor quality education offered at the madrasas is said to be one of the other reasons. The certificates issued by the madrasas hold no value as the UP Madrasa Shiksha Parishad has reportedly not yet been able to get its affiliation from any language university or recognition of its courses.

Speaking to India Today, UP Minority minister Dharam Pal Singh said the government had taken significant steps to improve the quality of education at madrasas. An app also has been launched, and an investigation is underway about the regular teaching at the madarsas.