The NWFP government has decided to include Pushto in the syllabi of schools and colleges as a compulsory language from class one to XII. Talking to a private television channel on Thursday, Minister for Education Sardar Hussain Babak said that during the outgoing academic session the government had already declared Pushto as medium of instruction in eight districts of the province whereas the decision would be extended to the remaining 16 districts from next month when the new session commenced. Experts of educational psychology all over the world are of the unanimous opinion that primary schoolchildren can best learn the new concepts in their mother tongue. However, if the opinion of the linguistic experts carries any weight, the situation in NWFP is different as, according to available statistics, there are 27 languages which are at present being spoken in various parts of the province.
There is no harm in including Pushto or Hindko in the syllabi but declaring it as compulsory language or adopting it as medium of instruction in one go can cause confusion, complications and even disaster in terms of linguistic oppression. The ground realities are that even Pushto-speaking teachers in schools, colleges and universities cannot all of them correctly read or write the language. The honourable minister must have had the first-hand experience of the fact when he briefly worked as translator in Peshawar radio's news section. As a political move, the decision can draw tremendous applause if the government is trying to play to the gallery. However, if it genuinely wants to serve the cause of education, the issue should be placed before a panel of experts for final approval and subsequent implementation in phases.
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