Learning in Urdu

This refers to the news story, ‘Primary education to be imparted in Urdu’ (Dec 3). Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has stated that Urdu will be the medium of instruction in primary schools. One wonders which terminology will be used for technical terms in subjects such as computers, mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry. Pakistani students are more familiar with the English terms compared to Arabic and Persian terms. For example everyone uses the term ‘hospital’ instead of ‘shifa khaana’. One way is to teach science subjects in English and humanities in Urdu. Teachers discuss most of topics in Urdu informally even when the textbooks and examinations are in the English language.

We tend to ignore the fact that knowledge and technology are indigenously produced in China, when examples of teaching in the Chinese language are cited for adoption of such a policy. Currently, students learn more by resorting to the internet, and knowledge of the English language assumes more importance for opening the minds of students towards global issues.

Dr Najeeb A Khan

Islamabad