Hyderabad school at centre of row over ‘read Kalma’ as homework

2 min readHyderabadUpdated: Jul 16, 2026 03:12 PM IST

Initially, the school had said that the homework was only for Muslim students who opted for a subject about Islamic teachings. (File Photo)

A school in Hyderabad’s Saidabad area is at the centre of a storm over allegations that a class 2 student was asked to read the Kalma and Surah Fatiha as part of the homework.

This prompted some parents to confront the school principal and teachers, alleging an attempt to convert the students.

The Kalima is the Islamic declaration of faith, while Surah Fatiha is the opening of the Quran.

As the controversy spiralled, Charminar Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) K Kiran Prabhakar said the school acknowledged that there had been a violation and terminated the teacher.

The DCP added, “The parents said they are satisfied with the action taken, and do not wish to proceed further. No FIR has been lodged because we did not receive any complaint.”

A parent said they have accepted the school management’s apology and asked the teacher to continue in the same school. The school management is yet to take a call on whether the teacher will continue. Meanwhile, Prabhakar said the school has students and teachers from various faiths.

Initially, the school had said that the homework was only for Muslim students who opted for a subject about Islamic teachings.

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BJP leaders, meanwhile, staged a protest outside the school, prompting police to detain many of them, including advocate and party leader K Karuna Sagar.

“I was arrested for asking why an FIR has not yet been registered in connection with the allegations,” Sagar said. “The law must be applied fairly and impartially, without fear or favour,” he added. Former BJP MLA and current independent MLA T Raja Singh also waded into the issue.

Education Department officials also visited the school on Thursday morning to speak to the principal and teachers and understand what happened.

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.

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