Central scheme for Urdu medium promotion in 11th Plan

Hyderabad, Apr 13 (UNI) The Centre will take up a scheme for promotion of education in Urdu medium during the 11th Plan period, Dr Rashmi Chowdhary, Director (Languages) in the Union Human Resources Development Ministry, said today.

The Ministry was concerned over the lack of adequate higher education teaching material in Urdu and also inadequate teaching staff, she said while taking part in a conference on 'The Problems of Urdu Education' here.

Under the scheme, training would be imparted to various subject teachers to teach in Urdu medium, she said.

There was no dearth of Urdu school textbooks as the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) had translated as many as 59 books from English to Urdu.

She said the southern region of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu (NCPU) should take up the task of translating higher education textbooks to Urdu.

Dr Chowdhary, who inaugurated the new batch of computer course, underscored the need for students to become well-versed in computer applications to get better jobs.

NCPU member and All India Urdu Educational Committee Chairman Mohd Jaleel Pasha urged the Centre to include Urdu as a compulsory language under the three-language formula to promote harmony and integration.

He sought the introduction of Urdu as a first language in all educational institutions, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya schools, residential schools and missionary schools at all levels.

The Government should start more Navodaya and Kasturba Gandhi schools for Urdu medium girl students to impart free education up to graduation level, he added.

He urged the Government to start job-oriented courses and compulsory computer education in all Urdu medium educational institutions.

UNI