Urdu teaching controversy: Bihar DEO withdraws directive after backlash

Kishanganj: Following growing opposition and controversy sparked by Bihar District Education Officer (DEO) Nasir Hussain's order to teach Urdu in private schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Education Officer on Thursday withdrew the directive.

Earlier, reacting to the letter, Bihar BJP President and Minister of State for Revenue and Land Reforms, Dilip Jaiswal, stated that the directive was not compulsory for private schools.

"The orders are not mandatory for any private school. The language (Urdu) can be included only if the school wishes to," Jaiswal clarified. He also criticised Hussain's move, saying it was outside the scope of the District Education Officer’s responsibilities, suggesting that Hussain focus on his actual duties.

District Magistrate Vishal Raj also weighed in, emphasizing that no compulsory guidelines had been issued regarding the teaching of Urdu.

"A request has been made to include Urdu as an option in private school curriculums for those who wish to learn it," Raj explained.

School officials criticise the order

The directive has raised concerns among local school officials. Trilok Chand Jain, Secretary of Bal Mandir School, argued that the order was illegal.

"Neither is this his (Nasir Hussain's) jurisdiction, nor has the Central government issued any such order. This directive should be cancelled immediately," Jain said.

The order

The controversy began when DEO Nasir Hussain issued a letter to all private CBSE-affiliated schools in Kishanganj on December 12, 2024. The order requested that schools make arrangements to offer Urdu as an optional subject to interested students. Schools were also instructed to submit a compliance report to the Bihar Education Project Office.

The decision followed discussions in the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held in October 2024. During this meeting, Congress MP Javed Azad and Congress MLA Izharul Hussain raised concerns that Urdu was not being taught in private schools in the district, which led to the DEO’s order.

(Agency inputs)