BMC’s decision to deploy English and Marathi medium teachers in 42 Urdu schools raises concern among educationists
Team Clarion
MUMBAI — The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Education Department has recently issued an appointment list that has caused considerable unrest within the Urdu medium educational community. The list details the deployment of English and Marathi medium teachers to 42 primary Urdu medium schools, a move that has met with significant opposition from headmasters, teachers, and educational organisations.
Teachers at these Urdu medium schools, which serve students up to class 5, must instruct all Urdu subjects. The appointment of non-Urdu speaking teachers has therefore raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the teaching process under these circumstances.
A headmaster from a city school expressed his strong opposition to the BMC’s decision, stating, “Our school is an Urdu medium institution. All subjects are taught in Urdu, but the education department has appointed a non-Urdu teacher to instruct the children in our first standard. This teacher is incapable of teaching our students. Only a teacher who knows Urdu can educate our children effectively. The decision to appoint Marathi and English medium teachers in Urdu schools, under the guise of promoting semi-English education, would exacerbate the problems faced by Urdu schools. We do not accept this.”
Prof JM Abhinkar, President of the Maharashtra State Shikshak Sena and a member of the Legislative Council, shared his concerns. Initially unaware of the situation, he later remarked, “If this has happened, it is wrong. How can Urdu primary school students learn from Marathi or English medium teachers? These teachers might be suitable for teaching Marathi and English as subjects, but they cannot be expected to teach other subjects in Urdu. This should not happen at all. If it has, I will immediately discuss the matter with the Education Officer.”
The Urdu Teachers Union has also strongly condemned the BMC’s decision and announced plans to boycott the semi-English initiative. The union has vowed to launch a campaign to protect Urdu schools from what it perceives as a threat. A viral post from the union stated: “Until now, we were under the impression that only English medium teachers for 6th to 8th classes would be appointed to teach science and maths. However, this is not the case. English and Marathi medium teachers are now being sent to Urdu schools for classes 1 to 5, as evidenced by the recently released list. There are no specific subject periods in classes 1 to 5; one teacher is responsible for teaching all subjects. In such a scenario, how will Marathi and English medium teachers manage in Urdu schools? This seems to be a conspiracy to undermine the Urdu language. The school management committee should convene an emergency meeting to address this issue and make it a public matter. We must fight this battle together, and the Urdu Teachers Union stands in solidarity.”
Adding to the discontent, Abid Sheikh, Joint Secretary of the Mahanagar Palika Shakshak Sabha, commented, “The appointment of Marathi and English medium teachers in Urdu schools is entirely unfair to Urdu medium schools and their teachers. This action by the state and BMC education departments appears to be part of a deliberate conspiracy. The Education Department is well aware that subject-wise teachers are not appointed for classes up to 1st to 5th standard, where one teacher is responsible for all subjects. How can a teacher who doesn’t know Urdu instruct subjects that are taught in Urdu, such as linguistics and sociology? The learning environment for children in Urdu medium schools is unique, and the teaching methods of Marathi medium educators do not align with it. We have opposed this decision from the beginning and will continue to do so. We have also raised this issue with Education Officer Rajesh Kankal, who assured us that such appointments would not take place. Yet, here we are facing the same problem, which will only harm Urdu medium schools.”
Attempts to reach Education Officer Raju Tarvi for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls on his mobile phone.
This decision by the BMC has undoubtedly sparked a heated debate, leaving the future of Urdu medium education in Mumbai uncertain.
