A teacher has been dismissed and a police inquiry is underway after a Hyderabad school assigned Islamic prayers as homework to Class 2 students
A private school in Hyderabad has come under intense scrutiny after a Class 2 homework assignment asking students to read the Kalma and Surah Fatiha sparked widespread outrage, leading to the dismissal of a teacher and a police inquiry into the institution’s practices.
The controversy erupted after images of a student’s homework diary went viral on social media. The assignment instructed students to read Islamic prayers, prompting objections from the family of a Hindu student enrolled in the class.
During the investigation, Hyderabad Police found that the Class 2 section had 25 students—24 Muslims and one Hindu. While acknowledging the class composition, Deputy Commissioner of Police Khare Kiran Prabhakar said assigning religious instruction as part of the curriculum amounted to a “complete violation” of the National Education Policy, which envisages secular education and does not permit religious instruction in such schools.
Hyderabad, Telangana | Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the Charminar Zone (South Zone), Khare Kiran Prabhakar says, “Yesterday, in Success School, an incident came to our notice. In this school, one lady teacher wrote that everyone has to read Kalma as the homework. Out… https://t.co/jPpmIyKPAN pic.twitter.com/u37QQy5Mub
— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2026
Following the backlash, the school terminated the services of the teacher involved. The management has also assured authorities that similar incidents will not recur.
The incident has triggered a wider debate over the place of religious teachings in educational institutions. Family members of the affected student argued that if religious texts are introduced in classrooms, equal treatment would require the inclusion of scriptures from all faiths—a position that has further fuelled public discussion.
The controversy has also taken a political turn, with BJP leaders and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists demanding action against the school management. Protesters gathered outside the institution, and several BJP workers were detained by police while demonstrating.
The police investigation is continuing to determine whether any additional legal or administrative action is warranted. The case has once again highlighted the importance of maintaining the secular character of school education while respecting the religious freedom of every student.
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