On an average a Muslim child attends school for about 3 yrs and four months as against the national average of 4 (four) years. In elite schools Muslims found are only 2 percent.

The dropout rate is also very high among Muslims. (Survey conducted in 21 states to assess the dropout rate at elementary school level, under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)). The study also reveals that the Muslim girls are more regular and high in attendance but 6 percent are forced to drop out.

These differences in literacy levels existed across almost all states However, Muslim-non-Muslim literacy disparities were far less in the economically-advanced states of west and south India compared to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir. Unfortunately, these five states with high disparities accounted for over 61 per cent of the country's Muslim population.

So far as higher education is concerned, Muslims have the lowest rate of enrolment in higher education in India. 13.8% is the rate of Muslim enrolment in higher education, trailed the national figure of 23.6% and other backward classes (22.1%) and scheduled castes (18.5%). Muslims comprise almost 14% of India’s population but account for 4.4% of students enrolled in higher education, according to the 2014-15 All India Survey on Higher Education. Wide gap between Muslim men and women compared with ‘All Others is found.

The situation is worse in rural India where only 6.7% Muslims take up higher education.

Theories behind the Divide

There are actually two schools of thoughts, one consider Muslims as stereotype and their condition is due to the restrictions put on girls (females) by their own religion and so by their community.

The other school of thought considers it as the discriminatory attitude of the government towards the community.

Regarding the former, it is not correct to presume the stereotyping of Muslim community. In Islam, education is an important obligation, further in Islam, education had never been accorded to some and others are prohibited. In fact Qur’an never stops women to get education.

Islamic Stand on Education

The very first declaration of the Qur’an- ‘IQRA’ (to read) is about ‘education’. Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (SAWS) termed education as basic obligation for every individual- male and female, the very first time in the history of mankind, in 610 (AD).

The word IQRA means to read. Education of particular type and for particular person/s only, has not mentioned anywhere. In fact whatever education and whoever that serves the community and for the benefit of community is as good as other virtue.

There are examples when women were involved in nursing, attended the wounded persons in various wars at the time of prophet (SAW). So if the education is for the good of humanity, it is not prohibited in Islam for any one.

Also the teaching of Islam are same for all, be it men or women the only difference is the division of work, and not the division of opportunity. There was a time when Muslim rulers put efforts that every person whether Muslim or Hindu, man or woman, rich or poor, enshrined with the right to acquire knowledge.

The later theory attributed their discriminatory condition due to the state’s attitude towards the community. (The state includes the government, the administrative machinery, the police etc).

Education – A Constitutional Right

Observing the big amount of illiteracy, the constitution of India under article 45 made it obligatory on the Govt. to achieve 100% literacy within ten years from the enforcement of the constitution in 1950. Later the education was made compulsory by inclusion of Article 21A in the constitution under the fundamental rights with the right to life and liberty.

Even before including in the fundamental rights, Supreme Court emphasized its importance and fundamental nature. In Mohini Jain v. State of Karnataka, court referred to Bandhu Mukti Morcha Case and held that “right to life” was the compendious expression for all those rights which the courts must enforce because they are basic to the dignified enjoyment of life. The court further observed that the right to life under article 21 and the dignity of an individual couldn’t be assured unless it was accompanied by the right to education. The court thus declared: “the right to education flows directly from right to life”. In Unni Krishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh the court held that the right to education was a fundamental right under Article 21 and that “it directly flows from the right to life.”

Despite being But there are evidences that Muslims are much behind, even from the other socio-economically weeks.

The Real Obstacle

A survey revealed that 47 per cent of Indian Muslims said it was difficult to survive on their incomes, compared with 39 per cent of Hindus. (INA) They are under -represented in public as well as private jobs. The number and percentage of Muslims in all government sectors. They have steadily declined from 31 percent in early 1947 to only 2.3 percent in 2001. When they are not economically sound they feel unable to bear the burden of education in general and for girls in particular.

Not only this their identity affects their everyday living ranging from being unable to rent/buy a house to accessing good schools for their children, marginal access to credit in banks and less wages. All these contribute to their discriminatory condition and the gap continue to exist.

The table below shows the marked difference in literacy level between Muslims and Non-Muslim. The gap is very wide at literacy level, and above secondary level education. Though not very wide at the secondary and below level. Rather at one point of time Muslims were doing good in secondary and below level than their counterpart.

Table: 2 Percentage distribution of persons by Education for Each Socio-religious Category (SRC), (Rural+Urban and Male+Female), 17-29 years