Schools in Gujarat are confused on new decision as they already had started teaching these languages to the students
Sindh Courier
Ahmedabad, India
The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has excluded three languages – Sindhi, Urdu, Persian and Arabic from the syllabus.
According to a report published by Times News Network, the Board recently issued a circular on new syllabus for class 9, which had no mention of languages such as Sindhi, Urdu, Persian and Arabic. The circular mentions only Sanskrit, the report said.
It said that Sanskrit and Persian are classical languages while Urdu and Sindhi are scheduled languages spoken by the people.
The school administrations are baffled on this omission and have written to the Board for clarification on the issue of languages. A letter from School Management Association said that these languages are being taught in schools in class 9 and examinations are also conducted. “We are confused whether these languages have been omitted accidently or as a policy decision,” the letter said addressed to the Director of the Board.
The decision would leave negative impact on the students from minority communities and limit the students’ choices and opportunities – Association President
The School Management Association further stated that the academic year has started and they already are teaching these languages but the circular has created a lot of confusion and would harm the learning of students.
Association President Mr. Bhaskar Patel stated in the letter that this circular would leave negative impact on the students from minority communities and argued that the decision will limit the students’ choices and opportunities.
The Education Board’s circular states that the new subjects’ structure will be implemented from new academic year 2023-24 and that only the Sanskrit will be offered as an oriental language subject.
Mr. Karan Wani, a Sindhi from Ganga Nagar, Rajasthan also confirmed that Gujarat state has excluded Sindhi subject from the syllabus from this year.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nari Lachhwani, an eminent writer and poet from Bairagarh, Bhopal said that Sindhi community is faced with such issues related to learning of their mother tongue as they are scattered in different states of India. “Learning the local language of the respective state as well as Hindi language is mandatory while out of optional languages, they have to opt for English being the international and market language,” he said.
“Sindhis have to learn local language to adjust in the society of that particular state while Hindi is national language of India. According to Indian education system, three languages are optional and Sindhis have to opt one of them,” Nari Lachhwani said.
“Owing to such a situation, the authorities in different states have to omit Sindhi language from the syllabus,” he said.
_____________
