Bengaluru: In a step towards integrating traditional and modern education, 4,500 madrasa students in Karnataka have registered for Class 10 and 12 exams through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The initiative aims to help students from madrasas gain access to higher education and wider career opportunities.
According to Lokesh Kumar Aluru, an official at the NIOS Bengaluru Regional Office, the institute conducts exams twice a year under two streams. Stream 1 exams will take place between April and May, while Stream 2 will be held between October and November. This year, 10,099 students will sit for Stream 1 exams, of whom 4,500 are madrasa students.
The move follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between the Minority Welfare Department and NIOS to support madrasa students who wish to pursue mainstream education. Jeelani Mokashi, Director of the Minority Welfare Department, said that students who clear the exams will become eligible for degree-level courses.
Each madrasa now includes an Academic Intensive Care Unit (AICU) with teachers for English, Kannada, Science, and other subjects. These classes are held for two hours in the morning and evening before students resume their Islamic studies.
Data from NIOS show steady participation in recent years, with over 6,900 to 7,200 students appearing annually. Officials said the growing enrollment from madrasas reflects rising awareness and aspirations among Muslim youth for balanced educational pathways.
