The policy of private schools regarding early childhood education has ignored imparting instruction in the Sindhi
SHIKARPUR: The policy of Sindh’s private schools regarding early childhood education has ignored imparting instruction in the Sindhi language, which is the mother tongue of the majority of students in the province. Instruction in a child’s mother tongue from the beginning of their education is of immense significance. It not only helps children step into the culture and society around them, develop their own cultural identity and sharpen their understanding capacity, it also has been internationally recognised as a child’s right to seek education in their mother tongue. A large number of provincial, national and international conventions, declarations, and legislations can be cited in this regard.
In this context, I am compelled to take serious note of the fact that Sindh’s private schools have failed to do this. As an essential stakeholder in my daughter’s education, I have tried to highlight this issue but to no avail. School instruction in Sindhi is heavily supported by the Sindhi people as they hold their language and literature in very high esteem. Denial of access to the Sindhi subject is tantamount to hurting sentiments of the public. I request the provincial minister of education, secretary education, and the chief minister of Sindh to pay serious attention to this issue to make schools abide by the law of the land and honour national social contracts, and the country’s international commitments in this regard.
Zubair Soomro
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2016.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
