A private school teacher in Hyderabad, Telangana, has been sacked following a dispute over homework that allegedly asked a six-year-old Hindu student to read content related to Islamic religious practices.
Police said they received a complaint from a relative of the student and are currently investigating the allegations, news agency PTI reported. Further action will be taken based on the results.
Family questions religious content in homework
The controversy began after the child’s family objected to the instructions written in the student’s homework notes. According to the boy’s aunt, the assignment asked him to read content related to a basic Islamic belief, the report said.
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The aunt said she confronted the school authorities over the issue and claimed that the school principal told her that it was a religious subject that was “mandatory for all students to follow.”
The woman also claimed that the teacher later said the instructions were written in the child’s book by mistake.
While viewing the school calendar while speaking about the incident, she said that religion-related homework should only be assigned to students who choose to study it voluntarily. It also called on the Ministry of Education to take the necessary measures.
The school terminates the teacher
Following the controversy, the school administration confirmed on Thursday that the teacher in question had been fired, the news agency reported.
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The administration official did not provide further details about the decision.
Political reactions and VHP
The case also drew sharp criticism from Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), both of whom demanded action against the school.
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Taking strong exception to the incident, Pandey Sanjay Kumar demanded action against the school management.
He wondered, “Why do the so-called secular groups remain silent about the incident?”
Expressing confidence in the BJP coming to power in Telangana after the next assembly elections in 2028, Sanjay Kumar said it will be mandatory for all Hindu students to apply a ’tilak’ (religious mark on the forehead).
VHP leader Ravinuthala Shashidhar also sought action against the institution, saying it should be revoked of government recognition.
(with PTI inputs)
