Brainstorming session held in Kolkata by Social Leaders to discuss status of Higher Education in Muslim Community

Friday, 14th July, 2013: Association of Muslim Professionals ( AMP) organised a meeting of Professionals, Senior Academicians, Social Leaders, Policy Makers_ etc., on Friday, 14th July, 2023 at M. M. Model School, 38, Imdad Ali lane, Kolkata – 700016. This was held primarily to discuss the current status of low participation in Higher Education in the Community, reasons for the same and the way forward.

As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE: 2020-21) conducted by the Ministry of Education, the number of Muslim students in Higher Education from the community has decreased to 19.21 lakh (4.6 per cent) in 2020-21 from 21 lakh (5.5 per cent) in 2019-20. The Muslim community is lagging behind all other communities, including the OBCs, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes, in aspects of Higher Education.

This being an alarming situation, the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) which has primarily been working in the domains of Education & Empowerment has decided to conduct a series of Brainstorming sessions to discuss the challenges and the way forward for increasing the enrolments in Higher Education within the Community.

The 3rd meeting of these series was held in Kolkata today, where social leaders were present for the brainstorming session and to discuss the different avenues of Collaboration to empower the Community in Higher Education.

Md. Rafay M. Siddiqui, Asst. General Secretary, Islah-e-Muasharah Committee – All India Muslim Personal Law Board, presented the dismal figures. He said _“Between 19-20 and 20-21, there has been a marked decrease of almost 1.79 lakhs students from Muslim Community in Higher Education. If the statistics are correct then it is quite disturbing and needs some long-term intervention.”

Aamir Edresy, President of Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), said that the Community needs to make this as an agenda of discussion and work towards finding solution to increase the Higher Education participation. Intellectuals, Educationists & Social Leaders have to put in collective efforts to increase the Community ratio in Higher Education. He said “Towards this end AMP is organising these kind of meetings & brainstorming sessions all over the Country in the coming days, and the solutions reached in these discussion will be shared with all the Community organisations for implementation.

Manzar Jameel noted activist and educationist, said “The decrease in enrolments for Higher Education in Muslims is a great cause of concern and each one of the educated members of the Community have to do our bit and spread awareness for increasing it along with probable solutions and an implementation plan.”

Haseeb Alam of the Al-Amin Mission was the presiding speaker. He summarised the entire discussion and exhorted all the community members to come together on one platform and work on this important agenda, if we have to see ourselves progressing and running shoulders with the other Communities.

The programme was hosted by *Manzar Husain*, AMP Zonal Head for East India who was also it’s convenor. *Shahid Haider*, Head – AMP Employment Cell, welcomed all participants to this important and topical meeting.

Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) has been working for almost a decade and a half in the twin areas of Education and Employment Assistance. From a humble beginning in 2007, AMP has grown exponentially, and is present today in more than 200 Cities of India and as many as 20 Countries globally.