Madrassa students denied equivalence certificates (IBCC)
Karachi: The Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), a federally administered committee, has stopped issuing equivalence certificates to students of madrassas, it was learnt on Saturday.
The matter was discussed in the last meeting of the committee which was held in Islamabad this week. It was decided that the committee will follow the federal government's instructions on the issue, officials of the committee said under the condition of anonymity.
Over tens of thousands of students receive an equivalence certificate of matriculation and intermediate from the committee every year. On the basis of these certificates, students are eligible to apply for graduate and postgraduate degrees from the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
According to the officials, the measure was taken so that all madrassas working in the country are convinced to accept the status of the Madaris Education Board, instituted by the government to supervise religious education.
If the Ittehad Tenzeemat Madaris Deenia Pakistan (ITMDP), a countrywide body of madrassas, accepts the board, then in the future, all certificates to the students will be issued by the board, they added.
The officials noted that the ITMDP had been asked to contact the Ministry of Religious Affairs to get equivalence certificates. On the other hand, the ministry refused to do so till the matter was not resolved.
When contacted, IBCC Assistant Secretary based in Karachi Muhammad Ejaz Ahsan confirmed that the issuance of equivalence certificates had been stopped on the direction of higher authorities. However, he refused to give any further details.
Similarly, ITMDP leaders have contacted the high-ups of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. "Both these ministries have not come up with any satisfactory answer to resolve the issue of equivalence certificates," ITMDP leaders said.
Commenting on the Inter board committee's refusal to issue equivalence certificate, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman said that they were in contact with the officials concerned. "However, the matter has not been finalised yet," he maintained and hoped that it would be resolved soon.
The IBCC is a state organisation responsible for deciding and granting equivalencies to Deeni Madaris students. The equivalence certificates include Secondary School Certificate (SSC) (Matriculation), Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) (Intermediate levels) and technical education and local certificates. Daily Times
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