Muslim kids fared well in their schools

ALLAHABAD: The number of Muslim students in the schools run by Vidya Bharati, the educational wing of RSS, has witnessed an increase of approximately 30% in the past three years. About 12,000 Muslim and Christian students are studying in these schools in the state. Moreover, Vidya Bharati has recruited Muslims as teachers also.Muslim students also recite ‘shlokas’ and ‘bhojan mantras’ and are doing well in studies as well as sports.Mohd Afsar and Mohd Sahban, students of Jwala Devi Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College, Prayagraj, won gold in hammer throw at recent ‘Khelo India Youth Games’ in Guwahati.Chintamani Singh, additional secretary, Vidya Bharati (East Uttar Pradesh ), said, “As many as 12,000 Muslim and Christian students are studying in our schools in UP. Around 9,037 Muslim and 10 Christian students are pursuing studies in 1,194 schools in east UP. The remaining are in west UP.”“The urge for good and quality education has been the prime reason for the rise in number of Muslim students in our schools.In 2016, the number of Muslim students in our schools in east UP, comprising 49 districts, including Awadh, Kanpur, Kashi and Gorakhpur prants, was 6,890, it increased to 9,037 in 2019,” he added.Singh said around six lakh students are studying in Vidya Bharti schools in UP, with a majority in rural areas.Many Muslim boys and girls studying in Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Saraswati Vidya Mandir have brought laurels to their schools in sports, cultural activities and academics, he said.Yugul Kishore Mishra, principal of Jwala Devi Saraswati Vidya Mandir, told TOI, “Two students of our school, Mohd Afsar of Class X and Mohd Sahban of Class XI, won gold medals in Khelo India Youth Games in under-17 category recently. Muslim students do well in academics also.”“With change of time and perception, Muslim families get their children enrolled in our schools because of quality education,” Mishra claimed.