Relevance of Urdu medium
According to Kurrien’s study, the number of people declaring Urdu as their first language has declined in 2011 to only 4.2% of the Indian population. If it can be assumed that all or most of these Urdu speakers were Muslims, it would mean that only about 30% of Muslims declared Urdu as their first language. Overall only 0.2% students are enrolled in Urdu medium schools in India. The highest representation is in Maharashtra i.e., 2%. Students do not opt for Urdu medium because education is not available for all 12 years and at some stage break of medium is inevitable which breeds disinterest in education.
Muslims are deserting Urdu medium Kurrien’s analysis says that pedagogic standards in Urdu schools are abominable; teachers are poorly trained; physical environment of schools is substandard; No material benefits of getting educated through Urdu medium; at the most these students can teach in Urdu medium schools or madrassas; no continuity of education as in most states the Urdu medium instructions are offered only either up to 8th or 10th std; no market relevance of Urdu; neither in Government, nor in market; limited educational resources; absence of scientific knowledge; nor does it impart higher order of thinking skills; wealthy Muslims have abandoned the language in preference to English which has contributed to its further decline.
Rise in demand for English education Kurrien says there is a rise in demand for English medium education among all communities and all regional languages share the fate of Urdu. English medium schooling is no longer viewed with hostility as culturally alien and the sole preserve of the elite. It is now being explicitly promoted as being absolutely critical and empowering for the poor in contemporary India by diverse spokesmen such as Dalit leader Mayawati and activists Chandra Bhan Prasad, and Kancha Iliah Shepherd. For large sections of Indian society, English medium schooling is the educational panacea.
Muslims form the biggest chunk of illiterates in India; Urdu losing relevance: Kurrien
Pune-based social scientists Dr. John Kurrien suggests a 3-point agenda for educating Indian Muslims.
M A Siraj on siasat.com Updated: 2nd November 2020 6:13 pm IST