By Muslim Mirror Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Welcoming the National Council of Education Research and Training’s (NCERT) recommendations on the minority education, the Urdu Development Organisation-an NGO working for the cause of Urdu language- has urged the government to implement these recommendations without any delay. Reminding the government its pet credo “Sab Ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas”, UDO said the largest minority (Muslims) lagged behind in education, therefore, the government must open schools in minority populated areas and give their culture the due representation in the curriculum.
NCERT, which is the highest body for school education of the Central government, has made a host of recommendations for minority education including the establishment of Urdu medium schools in Muslim areas, festivals related to religious minorities be celebrated in schools and sensitization of all teachers to issues of cultural and religious diversity etc.
UDO national president Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan said the NCERT has made significant and concrete recommendations keeping in mind that minority children go through many kinds of discrimination in schools. It accepted many of the recommendations forwarded by the UDO to the education body in the past, he said.
While thanking the education panel, Dr. Khan said the recommendation for giving their (minority) culture the due representation in the curriculum would address various problems like discrimination and harassment of minority community children in schools. The council also recommended sensitization of all teachers to issues of cultural and religious diversity, especially related to religious minorities.
NCERT underlined in its report that minority children go through other kinds of discrimination like a different school and classroom environment, and cultural and religious domination.
“Children of minorities at times find the prayers in the school assemblies and the picture of Gods and Goddesses on the walls alien to them. Sometimes comments on food habits are found to be offensive by one or the other community.”
Dr. Khan said council’s this suggestion if implemented, would go a long way in addressing the apprehensions of minority children’s parent. Furthermore, the suggestion that festivals related to religious minorities be celebrated in schools is also a good idea to dispel misgivings about minorities and to promote social harmony.
Dr. Khan also thanked the NCERT for making strong recommendations on providing education to children in their mother tongue.
Urdu Development Organization has been passing regular resolutions on the occasion of Urdu Day (On November 9, every year) to open Urdu-medium schools and to appoint Urdu teachers in Urdu-speaking areas.
The council’s recommendation that Urdu medium schools should be established in Muslim concentrated areas where the language is likely to be the mother tongue of children is a reflection of the UDO resolutions, he said.
The manual proposed by the NCERT recommended to the government that it must ensure learning Urdu as a second language and availability of Urdu teachers in such schools.
We have high hopes from the government that it would implement all the recommendations put forward by the NCERT regarding the minority education; he said and added that a panel set up by the Ministry for Minority Affairs has recommended setting up of 211 Central schools on the lines of KV and NV in minority-concentrated districts. The panel cited 2001 and 2011 Census figures to point out how these segments, particularly Muslims, lagged behind in education and skill development.
Every body knows what is required in the society. Only recommendations and no implements.
Want to put India in fast track.implementations also should be fast.