HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s attempts to implement the Justice Sachar report on Muslims is praiseworthy. According to newspaper reports, the minister is in favour of opening schools for girls, especially in predominantly Muslim neighbourhoods to ensure that enrolment levels go up. But the minister needs to ensure that he carries this all the way. Over the years, we have measured success in terms of enrolment ratios and we have seen these go up. But, at the same time, we have seen dropout rates rise, the net result being an illiterate and a poorly-educated population. Sibal may succeed in getting young Muslim girls to school but he has to ensure they stay there. Mid-day meals are one way to ensure this but more than this, the quality of teaching has to be improved. The provision of drinking water and toilet facilities, especially for girl-students, is equally critical.
Sanjay Gupta, New Delhi