Urdu schools defy odds and march on

One example is the school at Pataudi House in Walled City. When Jameel-ur-Rehman joined as principal in 2005,the Class X pass percentage had barely touched 20 per cent. In the last three years,the school has seen 100 per cent results in Class XII. Class X results have improved too.

“We had to bring in discipline,tell students they had a bright career ahead if they worked hard,” said Rehman. Extra classes were held during vacations,he said. The principals were also told that “action” would follow poor result.

Among the 12 Urdu medium schools under the government,Lal Kuan,Zeenat Mahal No. 2 SKV and Pataudi House have had 100 per cent results. Five schools managed more than 90 per cent,while four secured over 80 per cent. Only one school — Jama Masjid,No. 1 SBV — scored a low 40 per cent.

Firoz Bakht Ahmed,a community worker and activist,said one of the biggest problems these schools faced was the lack of vacancies for mathematics,English and science teachers .

Urdu schools have long suffered from government apathy,often functioning in ramshackle buildings,holding classes in makeshift tents or in the open. In the absence of Urdu books,teachers often have to translate content from Hindi textbooks.

Atika,who attends Jama Masjid No. 2 SKV,and scored more than 80 per cent,said books weren’t available,but teachers helped them.

Among the first schools to get a facelift was Zeenat Mahal. The school showed an 8 per cent improvement in results compared to 2008,topping among the girls’ schools with a 98.8 per cent pass percentage. Saima Haroon from the school topped with 86 per cent marks.

“We have told Urdu schools that you raise the demand and we will provide,” Ray said. “Now,we will concentrate on their infrastructure.”

‘I had to drop out,but want son to study’

On Friday,Faizan walked to the nearby mosque to offer namaz,before heading to a cyber café in the cramped alleys of Ballimaran to check his results. What he saw was “unbelievable”. He walked towards home,a printout in hand. But his family already knew that he had topped among boys in Urdu medium schools,with 83 per cent—his father had dialled the CBSE hotline.

Mohd Faizan Ansari (17),a student of the GSBV Pataudi House,has become the first in his family to clear Class XII. His father Hamid Ansari had to drop out of school in Class IX to support his family. “Had he (Faizan) got the books in time,he would have scored 95 per cent,” said Ansari,an artisan. “I had to drop out. But I want him to study.”

The proud father says he will arrange money to help Faizan take up a vocational course. “I can’t afford to spend three years doing a Bachelor’s degree,with no assurance of a job,” said Faizan. Another student from the same school,Mohd Salman,scored 79 per cent,which got him his first mobile phone from his father,a salesman.