Appointment of Marathi-medium teachers in Urdu-medium schools meets with opposition in Maharashtra

At least 160 posts for English teachers in Urdu-medium schools have been filled by Marathi medium candidates. There are over 5,000 Urdu-medium schools in the state and over 100 in Pune city, of which 35 are run by the Pune Municipal Corporation.

State president of All India Urdu Teachers Association Ilhajodin Farooqi said, “If the students are Urdu-speaking, then teachers from the Urdu medium who know both English and Urdu will be best. The same thing can have different words in Urdu and in Marathi. If we want good-quality English education, teachers should be able to first explain to children the concepts and rules of English in Urdu, which they understand best. How will a teacher who speaks English and Marathi do that?”

Representatives of the Shikshak Sabha met with Deepak Kesarkar and handed him a memorandum of their demands.

They are citing Clause 7 of a circular that was put out by the Education Department on 18 September, 2023 which said that only candidates who have received education in a certain medium in class 10th can be recruited to teach in a school of that medium. Farooqui said that the appointment list in violation of this circular put up on Pavitra Portal.

Responding to these concerns, commissioner of education Suraj Mandhare issued a press note stating, “In the entire school, if there is just one teacher from a different medium, it is only helpful as students will get more exposure.”

An education official said, “We have appointed teachers for English-teaching positions on the basis of the candidate’s knowledge of English and degree qualifications. Candidates will choose a different medium school only if they are ready to teach there so it should not be an issue.”