01105pab a2200133 454500008004000000100001800040245008100058260000900139300001400148362001000162520075100172650001400923773003400937180718b2005   xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d  aAleaz, Bonita  aMadrasa education, state and community consciousness: Muslims in West Bengal  c2005  ap.555-64.  a5 Feb  aHow does education foster a sense of identity? This article looks at the Madrasa system of education in West Bengal in an attempt to understand its role in shaping Muslim identity. While different Madrasas cater to different groups within the community, the schools, whether government supported or non-government run, also differ in the range of subjects they offer. What emerges also is that while the state government ostensibly supports Madrasas, very little is done to improve their conditions either by way of infrastructure or curriculum reforms. Madrasas, despite being the focus of attention and concern, continue to function in relative isolation, doing little to alleviate the poverty of the ordinary Muslim in the state. - Reproduced.  aEducation  aEconomic and Political Weekly