The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Only 300 matriculation schools have basic infrastructure and good teachers: expert

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Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Only 300 matriculation schools have basic infrastructure and good teachers: expert

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Educationist V. Vasanthi Devi on Saturday demanded inclusion of public-spirited persons as members in the committee to be constituted to determine the fee structure for unaided private schools in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a symposium on Equitable Standard Education, organised by the Students Federation of India and other mass organisations, the former vice-chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University pointed out that only 300 of the 4000 matriculation schools in the State had basic infrastructure and good teachers.

“When the government is laying guidelines even for setting up a punk stall, how can we give recognition to these schools and allow them to collect fee from the students,” she asked.

Ms.Vasanthi Devi, who is also a member of the committee constituted by the State government to study the possibilities of implementing equitable standard education, alleged that the attitude of the government seemed to be pleasing the matriculation school managements. “They are saying that the directorate for matriculation school will exist and the schools can continue to use the title. How are they going to implement the equitable syllabus? The old system is likely to continue,” she said.

Another member of the committee S.S.Rajagopalan said even in the committee only a “minority” believed that the equitable system could be implemented in true spirit.

He argued that when the owners of the matriculation schools were politicians, who were treating education as a business capable of paying rich dividends, one could not expect “political commitment” from the government to implement equitable education. “What is the point in having a curriculum which has omitted French Revolution, trade union movement and other social movements,” he asked.

SFI State secretary K.S.Kanagaraj moved a resolution urging the State government to discuss Muthukumaran Committee report on Equitable Standard Education in the Assembly.

The resolution said Tamil should be the medium of instruction and English should be taught effectively to improve the communication skills of the students.

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