Author(s): Bakhteyar Ahmad

Abstract: According to 2011 census more than one million people residing in Asansol and its surrounding districts in West Bengal and Jharkhand claim their mother tongue as Urdu. As per district report cards published by NUEPA (2011-12) shows a total enrollment of over 50,000 students in Urdu medium schools of Asansol and its neighboring districts. This is particularly relevant in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the importance of education in child's mother tongue or local language, even extending this recommendation to the higher secondary level and beyond, if feasible. Urdu at present is the 7th largest spoken language in India with a rich historical and cultural significance. In the present paper an effort has been made to understand the reasons influencing students’ enrollment in Urdu medium schools in Asansol region of West Bengal. The investigator interacted with 240 students, 47 teachers, and 11 headmasters using questionnaires and interview schedules to understand the reasons behind selection of Urdu medium schools by the learners. The data collected from close-ended and open-ended questions was analyzed, leading to the identification of 16 specific reasons. These reasons were further categorized into four major categories namely economic, cultural/linguistic, structural/procedural and geographical. The findings of the study indicate that economic reasons and cultural/linguistic reasons are playing significant role in influencing students’ selection of Urdu medium schools in Asansol region of West Bengal. Structural, procedural and geographical reasons are also playing considerable role in learners’ decision behind choosing urdu medium schools.

DOI: 10.22271/27891607.2025.v5.i1d.277

Pages: 246-251 | Views: 70 | Downloads: 31

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