Mumbai: Educational organizations such as the Urdu Teachers Union are strongly opposing BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) Department of Education recent appointments of English and Marathi medium teachers to 42 primary Urdu medium schools. They are questioning how teachers from English and Marathi mediums can teach students in an Urdu medium environment.
A headmaster of a local school reportedly expressed strong disapproval, stating, “Our school is Urdu medium, where all subjects are taught in Urdu. The BMC Department of Education has appointed non-Urdu-speaking teachers to teach students from classes 1 to 5, but these teachers cannot teach our students properly. What is the purpose of appointing such teachers in our school? Only a teacher proficient in Urdu can teach our children. The decision to bring in Marathi and English medium teachers under the guise of ‘semi-English’ will only increase the problems faced by Urdu schools, and we cannot accept this.”
In response, Professor J.M. Abhyankar, MLC and state president of Maharashtra State Shikshak Sena, remarked, “If this has happened, it is absolutely wrong. How can teachers from Marathi or English mediums teach in Urdu primary schools? These teachers may be suited to teach Marathi and English subjects, but how can they teach other subjects that are taught in Urdu? This should not happen. I will immediately raise this issue with the education officer.”
The Urdu Teachers Union has also voiced strong opposition to Department of Education’s decision. They announced their intention to boycott the ‘semi-English’ system and have launched a “Save Urdu Schools” and “Remove Semi-English” campaign. The Union feels that this is a conspiracy aimed at erasing Urdu. To address this, school management committees must call emergency meetings and make this a public issue. We must fight this battle together. The Urdu Union stands in solidarity with all concerned.”
According to Abid Sheikh, Joint Secretary of Mahanagar Palika Shikshak Sabha, “How can a teacher who does not know Urdu teach subjects like Urdu language and social studies, which are taught in Urdu? Moreover, the environment of Urdu medium schools is different, and the approach of a Marathi medium teacher will be completely incompatible. We had raised this issue with Education Officer Rajesh Kankal, who assured us that this would not happen, but despite his assurance, the move is being implemented, which will inevitably harm Urdu medium schools.”
