Guwahati:The Assam government has decided to delete the Arabic word 'maktab' – traditional islamic elementary school – from the nomenclature of 63 state and state-aided primary schools immediately,education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told mediapersons.
The classical definition of Maktab refers to the traditional Islamic elementary school primarily teaching literacy and the Quran.
The schools allowed them to retain the remaining part of their names. The students from the school would be in difficulty if they sought admission in higher classes in general schools after studying in 'maktab' schools for a few years. And Sarma said the term has become irrelevant now as the Maktab education system doesn't exist in Assam anymore.
The latest decision comes days after Sarma announced the state-run Madrassas and Sanskrit tols (centres of learning) would be closed down within the next three to four months.
The minister said madrasas and Sanskrit 'tols' have been apprised of the government decision to convert them into higher secondary schools.
