From next year, all undergraduates to study compulsory Urdu at Jamia Millia

From the next academic session, students seeking admission to Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) will have some new subjects to look forward to.

From the next academic session, students seeking admission to Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) will have some new subjects to look forward to.

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In tandem with the growing demand for Urdu, students pursuing undergraduate studies from the university will now have to compulsorily study the subject for the first two years of their course.

The course, university officials said, will equip students to understand basic Urdu. Officials claimed that a regenerated interest in the subject across the board had prompted this move.

While students pursuing professional courses such as engineering and dentistry will be excluded because of academic pressure, students from all other humanities and science subjects will have to study Urdu.

"Urdu will serve as a Modern Indian Language and the students' score in the subject will be added to their final assessment. Our students may not become Urdu experts, but the course will enable them to read and write basic Urdu," said Najeeb Jung, vice chancellor, JMI.

The University is also set to introduce English as an add-on subject for students of other language studies. They will study the language in the three years of their undergraduate life at Jamia.

Acknowledging the fact that it will increase the workload for students, officials also added that it will impact a student's profile when they enter the job market.

"Students who study Hindi, Persian or other languages are not very proficient in English. This move is aimed at such students. It is important that they understand this language as it will help them in future when they apply for jobs or opt for higher studies. We were inspired by the huge response that our Remedial English course received," said Jung.