At a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a case on whether to allow Muslim girls to pursue education wearing hijabs in classrooms, and there is intense scrutiny of madrasa education, Muslim-run institutions are leading the way by contributing to the educational empowerment of the community.
More than 500 students of Al-Ameen Mission-run institutes across West Bengal have cleared NEET this year. Similarly, in the neighbouring state of Assam, over 250 students of Ajmal Foundation have cleared the pre-medical entrance test.
Another community-based institution in Karnataka, Shaheen Group of institutions has helped more than 450 students clear NEET this year, including 10 former Madrasa students.
About 18 lakh candidates from across India appeared for the NEET UG exam. Many Madrasa students, who have never attended school or studied subjects such as science, mathematics, or languages other than Arabic and Urdu prior to their coaching in these institutes, have secured commendable marks in NEET this year. Over 10 Hafiz students and Madrasa pass-outs of Shaheen College in Bidar are likely to secure government medical seats. Four of these students have also scored above 600 marks.
After the NEET 2022 results, Dr Abdul Qadeer, Chairman of Shaheen Group on Institutions, Bidar told The Cognate that their students are expected to get more than 450 government seats.
“In the past twelve years, we have been successful in helping over 2,900 students to achieve free seats. Through our Hifzul Quran plus program, students who have no relation to formal education were trained for NEET for 3-4years. This year, about 12 Hafiz students are likely to get seats in government medical colleges.”
The North Karnataka topper is a Hafiz and a student of Shaheen College, Bidar. Hafiz Iqbal Ali, the chairman said, “by scoring 680 marks, Ali is planning to get admitted to one of India’s top five colleges.”
He also said that Hafiz students from across India, who have scored above 350 marks in this year’s NEET will be given free training in 12 Shaheen centres to prepare for NEET 2023.
“We wish there are more organizations with the size and culture as Shaheen. Our country needs 500 more such campuses. One institution can change the region and we are seeing that in Bidar. People from different communities get their sons and daughters admitted to Shaheen. Forty per cent of students belong to other communities. Shaheen is mobile phone free, automobile free, coeducation free and tuition-free because of which students are becoming hard-working,” he added.
Ali Iqbal, a Hafiz-e-Quran scored 680 marks in NEET and emerged as the topper in Shaheen College for the year 2022. He told The Cognate, “My dream of becoming a doctor has come true due to Shaheen’s Academic Intensive Care Unit for Dropouts. In 5th std, I joined Madrasa and discontinued my studies. I completed my Hifzul Quran after four years and went back to school but because of the gap in between and no basic education, it was difficult for me to understand formal education. However, I was well-trained at Shaheen and I scored 96 per cent in 2nd PUC.”
“After going to Madrasa and coming back, I thought my ambition to become a doctor was not possible. But because of Shaheen, it has become possible now,” he added.
Falcon College in Bengaluru is another Muslim run institution, which has shown excellent results in the country and produced NEET results with a 300% improvement compared to previous years.
Abdul Subhan, Managing Director of Falcon Institutions told The Cognate, “We are able to produce top ranks in our institution. About 5% of our students score over 600 marks. Out of 275 students, 72 students will be getting medical seats. At least 10 students have made to the list of toppers who have scored above 600.”
He said, “100% of students are Muslims which is a unique feature. The distinct feature of our institute is that with a very small number of nearly 300 students, we are able to achieve such great results.”
The topper of Falcon college, Mohammed Sulaiman cleared NEET in his first attempt by scoring 650 marks, thereby qualifying for a MBBS seat in one of the most prestigious college’s in Bangalore.
“My college had very focusing environment because everyone around us were studying and we did not have any kind of distraction. During the class tests, it was not that when we used to get low marks we would be demotivated. Friends, teachers and even our Managing Director were very supportive. He used to get into a personal touch with us when we had a low score. So that boosted our score really well.
Suleiman says his dream was passed on to him from his father and sister. “My dad is a doctor and even my sister. It was a type of family environment and was really motivating. During the COVID, we saw how the doctors saved lives. They were COVID warriors are doing their job and all that was inspiration for me.”
Fazlu Rehman, who scored 616 marks in his NEET was adopted by Falcon for his PU as his family wasn’t doing well economically due to the COVID-19 pandemic told The Cognate, “After seeing my percentage in 10 boards with 96%, our MD waved off my college fees. Since childhood, I had a dream to become a doctor. Actually, no one in our family is a doctor and it was my dad’s dream that I should become one. My family motivated me and even my teachers, they used to call me a Doctor.”
In spite of serious health issues, Rehman worked hard and his perseverance made him clear his NEET in the very first attempt.
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
