A controversy surrounding a private school in Hyderabad’s Saidabad area has come to a close after the parents of a Class 2 student decided to withdraw their police complaint. The dispute began when the parents alleged that their six-year-old Hindu son had been assigned homework asking him to read and recite the Kalma and Surah Fatiha, both important Islamic religious texts. The incident sparked public debate, protests, and political reactions before the matter was resolved following an apology from the school.
What Triggered the Controversy?
According to the parents, the child’s homework diary contained instructions to read the Kalma and Surah Fatiha as part of a homework assignment. The family claimed they were informed that the task was compulsory, raising concerns about religious instruction being given to students in a secular educational environment. Images of the homework diary circulated on social media, attracting widespread attention.
School’s Response
The school management stated that the assignment resulted from an individual teacher’s mistake and was not part of the school’s official curriculum or policy. After an internal inquiry, the school terminated the teacher’s services and assured parents that such an incident would not be repeated. The management also issued an apology to the student’s family.
Parents Withdraw the Complaint
Following discussions with the school authorities, the student’s father accepted the school’s apology and chose to withdraw the complaint filed with the police. He stated that the family wanted to resolve the matter peacefully after receiving assurances that corrective action had been taken and that similar incidents would not occur in the future.
Police Investigation
Police officials examined the complaint and the circumstances surrounding the homework assignment. According to investigators, the class consisted of 25 students, including 24 Muslim students and one Hindu student. Authorities noted that assigning religious material as homework in a classroom setting raised concerns regarding compliance with educational policies, regardless of the religious composition of the class.
Political and Public Reaction
The incident drew attention from several political and social organizations. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests outside the school, demanding action against those responsible. Some protesters were detained by police as authorities maintained security around the school premises. The controversy also sparked a broader debate about the role of religious content in schools and the importance of maintaining secular education.
School’s Stand
School authorities reiterated that the homework assignment was an isolated error by an individual teacher and emphasized that the institution does not endorse compulsory religious instruction. They assured parents that stricter monitoring of classroom activities and homework assignments would be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
