PositiveNewsCorner

Written by Aditee based on inputs by Shahid Kazi

A mosque in Shantinagar will open its doors for hundreds of students, and help them prepare for various competitive exams including national eligibility cum entrance test (NEET) for medical courses, and civil services. The coaching programme called “connect with mosque”, will be held during nights and students can use the mosque premises to prepare for competitive exams.

Experts from various fields will train students on how to plan, prepare and appear for competitive examinations at national and state level. Apart from experts, there will be trained teachers to guide students. Classes will be held at the expert coaching centre daily from March 2 for students planning to take entrance tests for various professional courses beginning next academic year. Separate classes will be held for those appearing for public service exams.

The first floor of Alamgir mosque near Mahavir Hospital has been allotted for the coaching-cum-study centre. This is the first time in Hyderabad that a mosque will double up as a coaching centre for academic and career enhancement.

Salar Jung Museum board member and educationist, Syed Zakir Hussain, said the mosque committee had decided to extend the scope of a masjid beyond prayers. “Classes will start after Isha prayers (about 8pm). Students can study in the mosque till the Fajr prayers (around 5am). Mobile phones will not be allowed, and students need to deposit them at an exclusive counter before entering the mosque,” Zakir said.

Syed Ata Hussain Anjum, president of Alamgir Masjid committee, told TOI “Many students cannot afford tuition fee to take coaching at leading coaching centres,” he said. “Also, many families do not have enough space at home for students to study in a serene atmosphere. We provide motivational programmes and coaching by teachers to hone the competitive skills of poor students.” The Alamgir Masjid committee also had taken up an educational-cum-job coaching campaign, “Excel 2020 plus”, to keep students abreast of latest developments in all fields and to enable them to crack tough competitive examinations.

Mosque committee secretary, Basha Mohiuddin: “We will ensure students get at least two hours of expert attention daily. Classes will be held for students of classes VIII to X, intermediate and degree courses. There will be separate sessions for those appearing for competitive exams in medicine, law, engineering.