Bengaluru
Over the past 15 years, the count of government Urdu schools in the state has dwindled from 5,000 to 4,000, accompanied by a concerning increase in student dropouts. Remarkably, around 50% of students enrolled in government Urdu schools exit by the 10th grade. To address this issue, a collaboration involving retired IAS officers and a KAS officer, alongside the NGO ‘Anjuman Tarakhi Urdu’, is set to conduct a comprehensive survey, aiming to assess the conditions and challenges faced by Urdu schools in Karnataka. The survey will be led by former IAS officers Azizullah Baig, Adoni Salim, Mir Anish Ahmed, Salahuddin, and retired KAS officer M.A. Khalid. Their collective effort will encompass a thorough analysis and reporting of the situation. President of Anjuman Tarakki Urdu, Karnataka Chapter, Mohammad Obaidullah Sharif, expressed the necessity for the survey due to the alarming number of minority community children being out of school, a trend exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19. One of the contributing factors to dropout rates, according to the committee, is the misconception that Urdu schools lack quality education, combined with inadequate infrastructure. The findings of the survey will be presented to the government, aiming to initiate necessary improvements within Urdu schools. In a bid to attract students back to these schools, various entities, including NGOs, mosque committees, and educated community members, are striving to enhance school infrastructure, provide essential supplies to economically challenged families, and furnish students with books and uniforms. Preliminary estimates suggest that roughly 1.5 million children from the community are enrolled in schools each year. However, by the time they reach 7th grade, around 50% have already dropped out. Adoni Salim, a committee member and retired IAS officer, shared that a pilot study has been conducted in four revenue districts Chikkaballapur, Bidar, Mysore, and Bangalore cities. The comprehensive report will include insights into the status of Urdu schools, the socio-economic conditions of students’ families, and the reasons behind dropout rates. This report will then be submitted to the school education department for further action.
