Month: May 2023

The Ministry of Education’s All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21 finds that Muslims are underrepresented in higher education in comparison to other communities.

What is the AISHE?

• Since 2010-11, the Ministry of Education has conducted an annual web-based AISHE to assess the state of higher education in the country.
• Data is collected on a variety of parameters, including teachers, student enrollment, curricula, test outcomes, education financing, and infrastructure.
• Data obtained through AISHE will also be used to calculate indicators of educational advancement such as Institution Density, Gross Enrollment Ratio, Pupil-teacher Ratio, Gender Parity Index, and Per Student Expenditure.
• These are useful in making educated policy decisions and conducting research for educational growth.

Minority Education Data from AISHE 2020-21

According to the poll, Muslim enrolment is declining, possibly due to financial restrictions and restricted alternatives for higher education.

(1) Decline in Muslim Enrollment:

• Muslim enrollment in higher education fell by 8% in the 2020-21 academic year, while other marginalised minorities saw increases.
• Economic hardship causes talented Muslim students to prioritise earning possibilities after finishing school over furthering their studies.
• UP (36%), J&K (26%), Maharashtra (8.5%), and TN (8.1%) saw significant drops.
• A considerable proportion of Muslim students in Delhi did not enrol in higher education.

(2) The Low Enrollment Rate in Uttar Pradesh:

• Muslims account for around 20% of the state’s population.
• Despite an increase in the number of colleges in UP, Muslim enrollment in higher education is only 4.5%.

(3) Kerala’s Outstanding Performance:

• Kerala is the only state where 43% of Muslims pursue higher education, bucking the national trend of low enrollment.

(4) Female enrolment improving:

• Female student attendance in Muslim and other minority populations is higher than male student enrollment, demonstrating progress for women in minority communities.
• Male Muslim community members are under pressure to work early, which may impede their pursuit of higher education.

(5) Lack of Muslim Teachers:

• Muslim representation in higher education institutions is dangerously low, accounting for only 5.6%.
• Teachers in the General Category make up 56% of the total, with OBC, SC, and ST teachers accounting for 32%, 9%, and 2.5%, respectively.
• Gender gaps in education continue, with only 59 female Muslim instructors for every 100 male Muslim teachers.

Causes of such low enrollment

• Religious influence: Within the Muslim community, many socioeconomic and cultural conventions prioritise early marriage and family duties above obtaining higher education, particularly for female students.
• Economic Difficulties: The Muslim community has financial constraints that limit their capacity to pay for higher education expenses such as tuition and housing.
• Lack of Awareness and Guidance: Many Muslim students, particularly those from marginalised families, are unaware of available higher education possibilities, scholarships, and other forms of assistance.
• Preferences for religious preachings: Given the intense rivalry and lack of reservation facilities, many families choose religious lectures at Madrasas to STEM education.
• Discrimination and Stereotypes: Religious discrimination and bias deter Muslim students from pursuing higher education and foster a sense of alienation in educational institutions.
• Socio-political Factors: Political choices, policy changes, or the discontinuation of educational assistance programmes can all have a direct impact on Muslim student participation in higher education.

Schemes in India to promote Muslim education

• Scholarships are available for minority students pursuing M Phil and Ph D programmes through the Maulana Azad National Fellowship.
• National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC): Provides economically disadvantaged minority students with interest-free loans and scholarships.
• The Nai Udaan Scheme provides free coaching and help to minority students taking competitive exams.
• Seekho Aur Kamao (Learn and Earn) Scheme: Provides skill development and vocational training to minority students in order to increase their employability.
• Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes: Provides financial aid for educational expenses in order to promote minority students’ access to education.
• Bridge Courses & Remedial Coaching: Assists minority students in closing academic gaps and improving academic performance.

Way Forward

• To counteract the decreased participation of Muslim students in higher education, the following initiatives should be made:
• Scholarships and financial assistance are provided to economically needy Muslim students.
• Developing awareness programmes to emphasise the value of higher education and its long-term benefits.
• Developing mentoring and support mechanisms for Muslim students in collaboration with community organisations.
• Policies that encourage inclusive education and fair opportunity for all communities are being implemented.
• Encouraging Muslim teachers and non-teaching staff recruitment and representation in higher education institutions.

Source: https://muslimmirror.com/eng/muslims-are-the-lowest-in-higher-education-says-a-report/#:~:text=Muslims%20have%20the%20lowest%20enrollment%20in%20higher%20education%2C%20says%20a%20report,-May%2010%2C%202023&text=The%20recently%20released%20All%20India,%2C%20by%201%2C79%2C147%20students.

• Iron is a necessary mineral for body functioning, but too much of it can be hazardous.
• Iron fortification of food is one way proposed for treating iron deficiency anaemia.
• high use of fortified meals, or consumption of numerous fortified foods at the same time, might result in high iron intake.

What exactly is Iron Fortification?

• The process of adding iron to food products to boost their iron content is known as iron fortification.
• It is accomplished by adding various types of iron, such as iron salts or iron powders, to the food during processing.
• It is a public health technique used to combat iron insufficiency, particularly in populations with low iron intake.
• The purpose is to deliver a major amount of the recommended daily iron intake through fortified foods, so helping to prevent and treat iron deficiency anaemia.

Implications for Iron Overload

• Comorbidities: Iron overload conditions, such as thalassemia, hemochromatosis, and chronic liver disease, have impaired iron excretion mechanisms.
• Except during bleeding events, iron absorption is balanced by continuous and minimum elimination.
• Menstrual bleeding: Women can eliminate iron through menstruation, although men are less capable.
• Increased iron consumption can cause oxidative stress, cellular damage, and reduced mitochondrial function.
• High serum ferritin levels (an iron storage marker) are linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as high fasting serum glucose, high total cholesterol, high triglycerides, and hypertension.
• Liver damage: Excessive iron can stimulate hepatic stellate cells and produce excessive extracellular matrix deposition in the liver. Prolonged iron excess in the liver can result in fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Challenges and ramifications

• Only a small percentage of iron taken through fortified meals is absorbed, with the remainder passing through the intestine.
• Unabsorbed iron can promote gastrointestinal lining inflammation and disturb the colonic microbiota, resulting in abdominal discomfort and gastrointestinal disorders.
• Nutritional absorption issues: Excessive iron in the gastrointestinal tract can limit absorption of other critical minerals such as zinc and copper, potentially leading to other deficits.

The Way Forward

• To avoid unsupervised high iron intake among varied populations, implement individualised iron intake solutions rather than obligatory fortification programmes.
• Ensure rigorous surveillance and detection of iron-related adverse effects.
• Precision in public health methods is required to avoid iron overload and possibly long-term chronic disorders related with excess iron.
• To avoid needless excess iron consumption, assess the particular dietary iron needs of different demographic categories.

Source: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-Consumer/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20iron%20can%20be%20harmful,pain%2C%20vomiting%2C%20and%20diarrhea.