The Assam government on Monday said all government-run madrasas will be converted into regular schools from the 2021-22 academic session.

“The word madrasa will be removed from government-run madrasas along with theological courses from April 1, 2021, which means there will be no high madrasa exam from 2022,” state education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.

High madrasas are equivalent to high schools covering Classes IX and X and are under the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (Seba).

Sarma was briefing the media on Sunday’s cabinet decision to shut down all government-run madrasas and Sanskrit tols. The government will table a bill to this effect during the winter session of the Assembly from December 28.

The tols will be offering degree and diploma courses on ancient Indian history and culture under the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University, a first of its kind initiative in the country, Sarma said.

Sarma had told the Assembly in September about the decision to shut down all government-run Sanskrit tols and madrasas from November because Dispur was moving towards providing modern and secular education.

The State Madrassa Education Board, Assam, which looks after pre-senior madrasas, senior madrasas, Arabic colleges and title madrasas will also be dissolved after declaration of results of the examinations conducted in 2021-22. The administration of madrasas under the board will be transferred to the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), which conducts Plus Two courses and exams.

The board was formed in 1934.

“All madrasas will be modern and secular. Teachers who teach theological courses in madrasas will be trained in imparting general subjects. The administrative control of all madrasas will be transferred to the Directorate of Secondary Education, Assam, and the madrasas will be renamed as high schools and colleges,” Sarma said.

In all, 610 madrasas will be converted into regular schools. The state has four Arabic colleges, 14 title madrasas, 138 senior madrasas and 230 pre-senior madrasas. The government spends about Rs 260 crore annually on these madrasas.