Make Kashmiri language subject compulsory for class 10: KLU

Members of Kashmiri Language Union protesting in Srinagar. —Excelsior/Shakeel
Members of Kashmiri Language Union protesting in Srinagar. —Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 15: Members of Kashmiri Language Union (KLU) today demanded that the Kashmiri subject should be taught at the level of class 10 in all the schools of Kashmir Division.
Scores of members of the Union who had assembled here to raise their concerns, asserted that the Government had earlier issued an order stating that the Kashmiri language subject will be taught in class 10, however, they said, nothing has been done in this direction so far.
“In 2017, the government had put out an order stating that the Kashmir language subject will be taught in class 9 by 2017-18 and by 2020 it will be made compulsory for class 10, but nothing has been done in this direction so far,” said Zubair Ahmad Kambay, a member of the Union.
He said that last year they went to meet the Director School Education who assured them that next year the subject will be made compulsory for the students of class 10. “But their assurances have proven to be all words bereft of any action,” he said.
They said that it is the responsibility of the administration to bring the language to the forefront by taking the required measures. “There is a need to take certain measures in order to save the language which has now taken a back seat,” he said, adding that the administration, in this regard, is just putting out words rather than really taking any action.
Sherish Nisar, another member of the group said that the Kashmiri language is the identity of the people living here. “People are teaching their kids the languages which are foreign to us; if the language is taught in schools till 10th, it will compel the parents as well as the kids to make them use the language,” she said.
The group appealed the higher-ups to look into the matter and take the necessary measures in order to give Kashmiri language a facelift and safeguard it.