A private school in Hyderabad has been in the news for a week after a Class 2 student was asked by a teacher to recite the Kalma as homework and it has drawn the ire of the child’s parents and residents. That case, reported from Saidabad, has led to protests and calls for a formal investigation into the school’s behavior.
After the backlash, the school management terminated the teacher involved.
Homework Entry Sparks Controversy
According to reports, the Class 2 student was instructed to memorize and recite Kalma, an Islamic declaration of faith, as homework. The assignment was written in the student’s school diary and photographic evidence of it has been circulated across social media.
After seeing the homework, the parents of the student approached the school administration and asked why a young child had been asked to memorize a religious text as part of classroom learning.
The parents expressed concern over what they saw as an inappropriate mix of religious instruction with school education. Videos circulating on social media also show heated exchanges between the child’s family and school authorities over the issue.
Parents Demand Investigation
The controversy deepened after parents of students in the area began protesting outside the school, demanding accountability from the management.
Moreover, the family has been asking for a formal inquiry into the incident and for authorities to ensure that religious practices don’t come into contact with classroom activities. They also asked the local police to investigate.
Parents have called for strict action against those responsible and sought assurances that similar incidents will not recur.
A Class 2 #Hindu Student Allegedly Asked to Recite #Kalma & #SurahFatiha at a private school in Saidabad, #Hyderabad School, Parents Demand Action.
— Sowmith Yakkati (@YakkatiSowmith) July 15, 2026
A controversy has erupted at a private school in Saidabad, Hyderabad’s Old City, after the parents of a Class 2 Hindu student… pic.twitter.com/dhy4Th73Eo
School Terminates Teacher
The school management dismissed the teacher identified as ‘Shaikh Aisha Parveen’.
According to the termination order issued by the school, the teacher was “permanently disqualified from seeking employment in any institution under the Success Group of Educational Institutions”.
The school has not publicly disclosed if it has initiated any internal inquiry other than to terminate the teacher.
Political Reactions
Political reactions have also been made.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) strongly criticized the incident. VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said schools should be places of education and not places to spread religious teachings. He called for the school management to take action against it.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also reacted, with spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari saying that the incident was the manifestation of a "conversion mafia" in Telangana and criticizing the state government.
These statements reflect the views of the organizations and political leaders and have not been independently verified.
Investigation Awaited
Police have not yet publicly announced whether a formal case has been registered. There will be a police investigation of the parents' complaint and whether any further legal action is required.
The incident has brought back the question about the role of religion in educational institutions and how much it should be separated from religion in schools (especially for children).
