Daily Times

It is a known fact that language plays an essential role for the development of a nation and is the only measure to unite its people.

it is sad that our national language (Urdu) is tackling multiple problems in Pakistan, where a mixture of Urdu and English (Urdish) is being used in the entire country. Urdish medium has taken the place of Urdu, the former being full of English words; especially in course books, which are a mixture of the two languages.

It is a fact that primary education is where children develop a better understanding of their own mother tongue and every child must be taught their own language first, not others. However, today our child-centric society tends to ignore the needs of children when they start going to schools. The controversy is destroying educational standards and is adversely affecting the growth of young minds. The young children who are instructed in their own mother tongue have a better understanding of what they are taught, which facilitates their cognitive development. When they are denied their own language, then surely they would never learn to think in a progressive way. Teachers need to be trained fully and must be mindful of this when they teach.

So, it is really shocking that even the educated class is failing to understand the Urdu language, with these people also resorting to using Urdish. In this regard, we are killing two birds with one stone, where both languages are not being done justice. So, I humbly request the government to take some serious steps in order to eliminate this major issue, where the Urdu medium must not be merged with other mediums.

The writer teaches at DELTA Academy and he can be reached at shakeelpullaan123@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, August 10^th 2018.