Prioritise Mother Tongue: Muslim Educational Bodies Urge Parents, Schools to Opt for Urdu
A child who loses his language gradually loses his connection with his roots,” the statement read.
Hyderabad:Ahead of the new academic year and ongoing admissions, the All India Muslim Educational Society (AIMES) and the Confederation of Minority Institutions have raised concern over the decline of teaching of Urdu and other mother tongues in schools. The groups said that despite the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stressing the importance of mother tongue education, many private, corporate, missionary and international schools are not encouraging it.
In a joint statement, they appealed to parents to choose their mother tongue as the first language for their children. “Language is directly linked to identity, confidence and cognitive development. A child who loses his language gradually loses his connection with his roots,” the statement read.
The organisations also urged school managements to promote Urdu as a first language during admissions for the 2026–27 academic year and to guide parents accordingly.
They called on the government to issue clear guidelines to ensure that students can opt for their mother tongue and that schools appoint qualified Urdu teachers where there is demand. The statement noted that in some schools, a large number of students come from Urdu-speaking backgrounds, yet the language is not adequately offered.
Citing constitutional provisions, the groups said protecting language and culture is a right and called for steps such as Urdu clubs, lectures and teacher training to strengthen its use in schools.
