Participants at seminar stress need to promote Urdu in state-run schools. PHOTO: FILE
Speakers at a seminar held on Saturday to promote the national language highlighted the importance of Urdu and urged the government to let it be the medium of instruction in all state-run schools.
A seminar titled ‘Promotion of Education through National Language’ was organised by Tanzeem Asatiza Pakistan ‘s (TAP) Khyber-Paktunkhwa chapter at the Peshawar Press Club. TAP Central General Secretary Dr Azharul Haq was the chief guest on the occasion while other keynote speakers included TAP Provincial President Khairul Hawari.
Addressing the audience, Dr Azharul Haq claimed the provincial government’s plan to introduce a uniform English-medium curriculum in all state-run institutions across the province is “a conspiracy to keep our young generation away from their national language and culture.”
He asked the government to abstain from taking such decisions and instead use Urdu as the main language in its knowledge sharing, creativity and research. He further said the national language should be given due importance and effective policies need to be promulgated to make the education system Urdu-medium
“The government should immediately withdraw the introduction of English-medium education intended for the next academic session,” he urged.
Agreeing with Haq, Khairul Hawari added development and progress in the country can only be possible through promotion of Urdu. He maintained all leading nations in the world worked with their national language, which is why they are progressing.
He said the government cannot achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 if it keeps ignoring its national language.
He also stressed the need for a uniform education system by using Urdu as the main source of teaching at government-run schools.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
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I see it as a most needed policy to have implemented. In the global learning environment, our children should be able to get themselves expressed and understood. To assure that happens is the sole responsibility of the government. I appreciate this
I think it should be introduced from 5th grade instead of 1st grade as planned, so the reform takes 5 years not ten and more children get the benefit. Great step
Urdu is our national language but for people in KPK particularly Pashtun dominated areas, Urdu is not the second language similar to English. By the way, in the newly introduced education reforms at KPK, only science subjects would be taught in English. As for me, i am in favor of mother tongue but then i ask myself as it possible in such a multi ethnic society. The answer is no. So instead of criticizing the government reform agenda, they should come up with a viable solution: how to educate our children in our own languages (we have many) while still keep at pace with the rest of the world.