Urdu medium students struggle for entry into top DU colleges

Farheena Naaz (18 ) is toeing the same line. Her hopes of studying in a DU college were dashed as she only secured 60 per cent marks and is now applying for a two-year elementary teacher training course.

Naaz,who passed out of government-run Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya,said,“If I don’t get the DIET course,I will apply to the correspondence course at the Delhi University (School of Open Learning).”

The overall pass percentage of Urdu-medium schools in the Capital this year was 79.15,as compared to the pass percentage of 81 last year. There are 26 Urdu-medium schools that includes primary,middle,senior and senior secondary schools,government and government-aided schools in the Capital.

For Rukhsana,teaching is a “safe” option. She has applied to the (Elementary Teacher Training) ETT course at the Jamia Millia Islamia. “I appeared in the interview and am waiting for the results now. Teaching is considered a safe job for girls among Muslim families.” She scored 67 per cent in her Class XII from the Rajkiya Sarvodaya.

Aspiring to be a civil servant,Muhammad Asim is all set to pursue a B Com degree at Zakir Hussain College despite securing 86.25 per cent in his higher secondary exams. “I want to be an IAS officer. Three years of graduation will give me time to prepare for the exam well,” Asim said.

Keen to pursue English (Honours) in college despite studying in Urdu medium,Yusra Mehraj said his hopes were dashed when he got to know that as part of the course he would have to study English novels.

“I heard in that course we have to study English novels and because I have always studied in Urdu,it would be difficult for me to cope,despite qualifying for CATE,” he said.

Ved Prakash Gupta,vice-principal of Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya,Jama Masjid 1,said,“Many students go for the Urdu and Persian courses at the Jamia Milia Islamia and Delhi University colleges.”

He added that while a few students pursue higher studies,others join their family business and several join computer training courses and technical workshops.