Urdu Medium Intermediaries Issues Getting Higher Education in English Medium Institutions: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

The most important aspect of all beings is language. Language connects us with other people, we use express our thought and emotions, to fulfill our needs of life. However, the barrier to understand language can put you at trouble especially if the matter is of education. Education system of Pakistan is preserve of an elite, leaving the rest of the country to linguistic confusion and educational failure. This system has put the youth at confusion and threat to pursue their higher education where they have to study their courses in English.  It  has created the cultural and social discrimination in our youth.  This study examines the issues related to language choice in education system of Pakistan. The study is qualitative in nature and four in depth interviews are conducted with the Urdu medium intermediates who have started their university education in English medium. The respondents reveal system that such system has put them in great difficulty and disappointed to continue their education. The study implies that language discrimination has greatly affect the confidence level of Urdu medium students clearly indicates that Urdu background students have to face problems in every field of life because the mindset of society is quite conservative towards a person who cannot speak English.

Key words:higher education, language discrimination, Urdu intermediaries