Urdu schools to restore half-day tradition on Thursdays: Anwarul Hasan Midwavi

Hajipur, August 13 (ABN): The demand to maintain the long-standing tradition of having a half-day on Thursdays in Urdu schools is gaining momentum. Noted writer, columnist, and active worker of the Urdu movement, Anwarul Hasan Wasitvi, has demanded from the Bihar government's education department that clear instructions be issued to run government Urdu medium schools half-day on Thursdays, a day before the weekly holiday, just like general schools.

Anwarul Hasan Wasitvi, while reacting strongly to the recent order of the education department, said that the decision to have a half-day on Saturdays in the state's schools is welcome, but the lack of clear clarification about Urdu medium schools in the order has left the teachers of Urdu schools in a state of confusion. He said that having a half-day on Thursdays in Urdu schools is not a new concession, but an old administrative tradition that has been in place since before independence.

He said that in the state's general schools, there has been a system of weekly holidays on Sundays and half-days on Saturdays, while in Urdu medium schools, there has been a tradition of weekly holidays on Fridays and half-days on Thursdays. This system was in place until November 2024, which was abolished by the then Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, K.K. Pathak, and uniform timings were fixed for all schools.

Anwarul Hasan Wasitvi said that the decision to have uniform timings was strongly opposed by teachers and guardians of students, but their sentiments and demands were not given due importance at that time. According to him, the current government's decision to reimpose the half-day system a day before the weekly holiday is commendable in the sense that it has recognized the long-standing demand of teachers and students.

He said that if the education department's recent order has fixed Saturday as a half-day for general schools, then it should have also clarified that Thursday would be a half-day for Urdu schools. The lack of this clarification has raised questions among Urdu school teachers about whether they should run the school for the full time or half-day on Thursdays. He emphasized that in the context of past tradition and current decisions, the half-day system should be implemented in Urdu schools on Thursdays as well.

Anwarul Hasan Wasitvi appealed to the teachers of Urdu schools not to be afraid or hesitant in demanding their rights. He said that the demand for a half-day on Thursdays in Urdu schools is not being made for any special concession, but it is a matter of equal facilities and democratic rights. He said that when general government school teachers and students are being given the facility of half-day before the weekly holiday, the same facility should be given to Urdu medium government school teachers and students as well.

He said that Urdu schools are also an integral part of the state's government education system, just like other government schools. Making a distinction in facilities based on language or type of school would be equivalent to injustice and violation of rights. Anwarul Hasan Wasitvi demanded from the Bihar government and the education department that a clear order be issued in this regard immediately, so that the confusion among Urdu school teachers can be ended and the old tradition of having a half-day on Thursdays can be maintained regularly.

He said that if any teacher is subjected to departmental action for exercising this right, all teachers will unite and approach the High Court to protect their rights legally.