Students who have not learnt Urdu in schools and wish to study in Jamia Millia Islamia can soon join the university as newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad has set up a panel to make the language optional instead of compulsory.
So far the language was compulsory for students who took admission in some courses at JMI. However, the V-C feels that the implementation of the mandate was not done uniformly.“The language was not made compulsory for all the students studying at Jamia. This is not fair as many students do not study the language at senior school level. While I support the language and want to promote it, I don’t believe in imposing things on anyone,” said Ahmad.
Thus, after wider consultation he set up a committee which is now looking at uniformly implementing the language.Ahmad informed, “We are planning to combine the language in the choice-based credit system. Students will then be able to pursue the language as per their interest.”
These changes may however not be implemented soon. “I like to tread slowly and make real reforms,” said Ahmad.