The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Provide free, compulsory education up to class XII, demands SFI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Provide free, compulsory education up to class XII, demands SFI

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The State unit of the Students Federation of India (SFI) has demanded free and compulsory education for all up to class XII.

The students' body raised the demand in a "student's charge sheet" report of five years of the AIADMK regime released to the media on Tuesday. "Plus-two is the minimum qualification for government jobs. The laws must be amended to implement free, compulsory education," the report said.

The SFI was critical of the AIADMK for its alleged neglect of educational issues. It listed various instances to substantiate the claim: the State had three Education Ministers in the last five years and several secretaries to Education department; the Government had not been able to stop alleged irregularities in schools by parent-teacher associations; no effort was taken to end alleged irregularities by deemed universities even when students protested; important posts like vice-chancellor and registrar in universities had not been filled; attacks on students during protests in Dr. Ambedkar Law College; and poor maintenance of students' hostels.

SFI State secretary Selva said political manifestoes had largely neglected educational issues.

"We wanted to highlight the misgivings of the AIADMK Government as well as raise new demands for the next regime."

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