Shortage of teachers and unavailability of translated NCERT textbooks haven’t come in the way of Urdu school students from making a mark in the CBSE examinations this year. The pass percentage in Urdu schools of the city is 88.70% for class XII Boards and 90% for class X Boards. Despite the heavy odds against them, their performance is better than their government school counterparts in terms of overall pass percentage. In 2006, the pass percentage for class XII was 67.73%, it increased to 72.30% in 2007. In 2008, it increased to 81.79% and this year it stands at 88.70%, slightly more than the 87.1% of government schools. Attributing the success to special attention to these schools, education secretary Rina Ray said: “We acknowledge the problems of shortage of textbooks and teachers and we try to help them out with books. We have been in touch with principals, staff and students of these schools. The Urdu academy has translated question banks for the convenience of students.”
On the shortage of textbooks, NCERT spokesperson BC Patro said: “The translation of NCERT books into Urdu is done by Jamia Milia Islamia. It’s no longer a problem. These books are not given out by NCERT distributors but by Delhi Urdu Academy.”
Record results, principals say, have been made possible by constant counselling to parents and extra coaching provided for students. Said Shabana Nazir, principal, Jama Masjid no-2, SKV: “There was shortage of books last year but the problem has been resolved now as we got books in February 2008. We have been counselling parents and also teaching some students in zero period, who may require extra help.” The pass percentage in this school is 98% this year as compared to 100% last year and 95% in 2007.