The 350 year-old Anglo-Arabic senior secondary school took a giant leap today by admitting girls for the first time in its history.
Darakshan, Mehwish – both admitted in class XI- and Gulafshan – admitted in class VI created history by ending a three-and-a-half century old tradition and becoming the first girls to be admitted at a school, whose former students include Sir Sayed Ahmed Khan, founder of Aligarh Muslim University.
Darakshan, a bright teenager, is all smiles as she finishes filling up the admission forms. “I am very happy to join this school. I believe that opportunities for girls and boys should be equal. We should not be discouraged and must be ready to face up to challenges,” she said.
Equally thrilled is Mehwish’s mother Zahira Begum, “I never imagined that I would see this day. I have full faith in my daughter that she will do me proud. We have to make ourselves strong.”
Speaking of the challenges of changing mindsets within the Muslim community who may be opposed to such a move, Shahina Furquan, a teacher at the Anglo Arabic Model School, says “I too live in old Delhi. You’ll see many girls who cover themselves in a burqa. There are also many people who cover their minds with ignorance. When I plead with families to send their daughters to study here, they are appalled. They cannot fathom sending their daughters to study with boys. But I tell them that I will take responsibility for the safety of their children. And that’s how, we have three students here today.”
The landmark development comes barely two days after the Delhi High Court issued notice to the Delhi Government and police to ensure that the decision of the school management to admit girls students be “duly implemented”.
The Delhi High Court was responding to a petition filed by a JNU student Fatima Alvi raising the issue that despite a 26 March resolution by the school management to admit girls, no admissions had taken place.
“There was a need and a cry for reform and better education standard from Muslim women. We took a conscious decision to admit girls into this 350-year-old institution. And we passed a resolution. The result is here for you to see,” said Atyab Siddiqui, manager of the school.
A process that was set in motion almost two years ago was stiffly opposed by some members of the staff and even by some local politicians.
“Unfortunately, there was opposition from some members of the staff. Some said it was un-Islamic. There were apprehensions about the security of the girl students. (The school is spread over nine acres). Those concerns will be addressed in right earnest. We will be recruiting a woman matron, there will be a special common room for girls and a separate washroom for girls,” he said.
“We talked individually to the teachers. We told them that times have changed and if society has to develop, if the Muslim community has to play a more positive role, we cannot run away from the reality that girls have to be educated.”
While it remains to be seen whether those opposed to the move will cooperate in the smooth implementation of the High Court order, everyone’s mood on campus today was one of joy and relief.
Describing the occasion as historic, school principal Abrar Ahmed Khan, said it was his honour that it had happened in his time. “We wish that the community will cooperate, Inshallah. I will do my best to see that the girls succeed with flying colours. This is a new chapter and we are going to celebrate the new ideas of our society.”
The school’s first woman teacher, Faiza Nisar Ali said that the development had put her on top of the world. “I am very
happy at this historical move. Our efforts have finally borne fruit.” Ali authored the feasibility report that formed the basis for the management’s breakthrough decision to admit girls.
Explaining the dire need for a senior secondary school for girls in the Walled City, Azra Razzack, secretary of the Delhi Education Society that runs the school said: “This school provides science and commerce streams, both of which are not offered by other schools in the neighbourhood. That is a major reason why girls want to come to this school.”
Siddiqui credited former president APJ Abdul Kalam for inspiring them to take this step. “When he visited this institution there years ago he advised us that we should seriously think of providing education to the girl child. That’s when we decided we must implement this.”
And what do the boy students make of this move? “It will bring about a positive change to the school environment. It is a good decision. It will also help us overcome hesitations that we often feel while interacting with girls during inter-school competitions,” said Mohammad Aquib, a XI student.
—Source: First POst