Saturday 5 October 2024

Promote Urdu-Medium Education for Multilingual Success: NCPUL Director Urges Intellectuals

Bhopal, 05 October 2024: Referring to Osmania University, Hyderabad where medical and engineering courses were once taught in Urdu, NCPUL Director Dr. Shams Iqbal on Saturday emphasized the importance of multilingual education in today's world, urging the intellectual to promote and expand Urdu-medium education as much as possible.

“It is the need of the hour for the intellectual to think about providing education in Urdu language. Though challenges are there, but at least, at elementary level education can be offered in Urdu medium as the same has been emphasized upon in the NEP 2020,” Dr. Shams Iqbal opined while addressing a day-long National Seminar here in Bhopal.


NCPUL Director Dr. Shams Iqbal addressing the national seminar

The National Seminar on “Urdu Medium Education in Present Technological Scenario with reference to NEP 2020” was organized by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) Campus Bhopal here at its lush green campus.

Dr. Shams Iqbal emphasized the need to integrate Urdu with modern technology to ensure its widespread promotion and relevance in today's digital age. He stressed that by embracing technological advancements, Urdu could reach a broader audience, especially the younger generation, and play a more prominent role in education.

Speaking at the event, MANUU Registrar Prof. Sk. Ishtiaq Ahmad, who joined the national seminar virtually from MANUU headquarters in Hyderabad, expressed concern over CBSE's latest decision requiring students to write answers only in Hindi and English. He highlighted that this move excludes Urdu, which directly impacts Urdu-medium students, particularly those from MANUU model schools.

MANUU currently operates three model schools in Darbhanga (Bihar), Nuh (Haryana), and Falaknuma (Hyderabad), where education is offered in the Urdu medium.

MANUU Registrar Prof. Sk. Ishtiaq Ahmad address at national seminar

Prof. Ishtiaq Ahmad urged all stakeholders, particularly NCPUL Director Dr. Shams Iqbal, to address the issue and protect the interests of Urdu-medium students. He highlighted that this move contradicts the NEP 2020, which supports school education in regional languages or the mother tongue.

Prof. A. R. Fathi from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, delivered the keynote address, stating that the national seminar on this topic is a step toward dreaming big. However, he emphasized the need to first bridge the digital divide, especially in terms of improving infrastructure.

Prof. A. R. Fathi delivery key note address

At the start of the national seminar, Prof. Muhammad Ahsan, Regional Director of MANUU Regional Centre-Bhopal, delivered the welcome address. He noted that technological advancements have transformed education, creating both new opportunities and challenges.

MANUU Regional Director Dr. Muhammad Ahsan delivering welcome address


Prof. Noushad Husain, Principal of MANUU College of Teacher Education in Bhopal, was also present at the event and chaired one of the sessions. Additionally, numerous scholars and experts from across the country participated in the national seminar, benefiting from the thought-provoking discussions on key topics of significance. 

Participants listening to experts at national seminar

The inaugural session of the national seminar was hosted by Dr. Iqbal Masood, former Deputy Secretary of the Urdu Academy in Bhopal. Dr. Shama Kauser Yazdani, Assistant Director (Academic) at NCERT, delivered the vote of thanks.

After the inaugural session, two technical sessions took place, featuring the presentation of 10 research papers by the authors.


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