Karnataka’s Proposed 15,000 Teacher Recruitment Draws Concern Over Exclusion of Urdu Medium Vacancies
Minority representatives urge the government to include vacant Urdu teaching posts and assure efforts to raise the issue at the highest level.
Bengaluru: Concern has been raised over the proposed recruitment of 15,000 teachers in Karnataka after vacant teaching positions in Urdu medium schools were reportedly left out of the recruitment process.
A delegation of state ministers and legislators, led by Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed, held a meeting with Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa to discuss the demand for including vacant Urdu teacher posts in the recruitment process.
Ministers U. T. Khader, Rizwan Arshad, Zameer Ahmed Khan and K. Nagendra, along with MLAs Asif Raju Seth, Yasir Pathan and Kaneez Fatima, MLCs Bulqees Bano and Abdul Jabbar, Chief Minister’s Political Adviser Ponnanna and senior officials attended the meeting.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Health, Minority Welfare and Waqf Minister U. T. Khader said the appointment of Urdu teachers was discussed with regard to the number of students studying in Urdu medium schools.
According to Khader, the Education Minister explained that making an immediate amendment to the existing recruitment notification could lead to legal complications. However, the issue would be seriously considered in future recruitment drives.
Khader also assured that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister and seek its discussion in the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, during the SDPI’s “Chalo Bengaluru” protest, Minister for Minor Irrigation Ajay Dharam Singh, son of former Chief Minister the late Dharam Singh, received a memorandum from the protesters. He also expressed his commitment to addressing the concerns related to Urdu medium schools and assured the protesters that he would raise the matter with the Chief Minister.
Representatives of the minority community and education sector, however, said the issue should not remain limited to meetings and assurances. They urged the government to identify all vacant teaching posts in Urdu medium schools and, if necessary, issue a separate recruitment notification specifically for Urdu teachers.
They stressed that ensuring equal opportunities for Urdu medium students and filling vacant teaching posts are essential for protecting the future of thousands of students across the state.