India: Information on the language of instruction in schools in Kashmir, on whether Hindi is taught, on whether schools are separated into Muslim and Hindu institutions and on whether Muslim and Hindu pupils are taught in the same languages
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IND20766.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, India: Information on the language of instruction in schools in Kashmir, on whether Hindi is taught, on whether schools are separated into Muslim and Hindu institutions and on whether Muslim and Hindu pupils are taught in the same languages, 1 May 1995, IND20766.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac3268.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
An official at the Education section of the Embassy of the Republic of India in Washington, DC stated during a 25 May 1995 telephone interview that the language of instruction in government-owned schools at the primary and secondary levels in Jammu and Kashmir is the Urdu, Jammu and Kashmir official language. This information corroborated the information provided by a representative of the Kashmiri Canadian Council in Scarborough, Ontario during a 24 May 1995 telephone interview. Both sources noted however that English is the medium of instruction in private schools and at the university level (25 May 1995; 24 May 1995).
According to the official at the Indian embassy, Hindi is taught in the primary and secondary schools in Jammu and Kashmir as a second language (25 May 1995). Even though Hindi is the official language of the Union, the use of Hindi is not compulsory in schools (ibid.). Education is under the jurisdiction of the individual state governments (ibid.).
The official at the Indian embassy and the representative of the Kashmiri Canadian Council both stated that schools in Jammu and Kashmir are not separated on the basis of religion (25 May 1995; 24 May 1995).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Embassy of the Republic of India, Washington, DC. 25 May 1995. Telephone interview with official.
Kashmiri American Council, Scarborough, Ontario. 24 May 1995. Telephone interview with representative.
