After the ADMK government took over, the people of
the State witnessed two major developments. Even before the swearing-in
ceremony of the new ministry, the airy and spacious New Assembly – Secretariat
complex constructed at a cost of over Rs.1,200 crore was hastily shifted back
to the cramped Fort St. George. Till date no authority in the government had
owned the decision. However the State government has to explain the decision to
the Madras High Court, which had issued notices to the Chief Secretary and
Jayalalitha, in her capacity as the general secretary of the ADMK.
The first Cabinet meeting took a major decision
that affects the interests of lakhs of school students in the state and their
future. The ADMK government decided to defer the implementation of Equitable
Education System (Samacheer Kalvi) this year and to revert to the old systems
of State Board, Matriculation, Anglo-Indian and Oriental Education. Previously
there were reports in some dailies that the government did not intend to allow
text books containing a poem penned by Kalaignar on the glory of Classical
Tamil. But after the Cabinet decision it is made clear that the very system of
equitable uniform education implemented by the previous DMK government is anathema
for the ADMK regime.
But, although providing equitable education was an
electoral promise of the DMK, it was not unilaterally implemented by its rule.
There was a long process that preceded the implementation of Samacheer Kalvi,
beginning with the appointment of an expert committee to the promulgation of an
ordinance based on recommendations by academics, experts and officials and
unanimous adoption of the Act by the State Assembly with the support of all
parties including the ADMK, aimed at procuring real equality in all aspects of
education and integrating multiple streams of study under a single education
board, was implemented after considerable forethought and study. It was
introduced for classes I and VI last academic year and was to be introduced for
the other classes from the academic year 2011-12. Text books for all classes were
produced at a cost of Rs.200 crore and sent to all districts for distribution.
They were also put online and number of students, especially of X standard,
have downloaded them and were studying during vacation. Kalaignar has explained
in detail on the lengthy process adopted by the DMK government in deciding and
implementing the system and the opposition to the ADMK’s move to defer the
system, from ADMK’s allies like the CPI, CPM and Samathuva Makkal Katchi.
That the Jayalalitha’s regime was led to take this
decision only because it was introduced by the previous DMK government and that
it was not borne out of any principle had come into open with two contradictory
stands taken by the Advocate General representing the State government in
Madras High Court and the explanation given by the School Education Minister to
a delegation of CPM and its students wing.
Entertaining Public Interest petitions challenging
the government’s move filed by advocate K.Shyam Sundar of Chennai,
M.Seshachalam of Panruti and S.T.Manonmani of Poonamalee, Madras High Court
bench comprising Justices S.Rajendran and K.B.K.Vasuki has directed the State
government to file a detailed counter affidavit. The counsels for the
petitioners submitted that the policy decision of the new government could not
override the 2010 Act; the decision could not nullify the judgement of the
Madras High Court passed in April last year, which upheld the Act and subsequently
upheld by the Supreme Court also; over Rs.200 crore had already been spent for
printing 9 crore school textbooks; such a decision was not in public interest
and waste taken without any report by experts. Referring to the High Court
ruling, the counsels said the educational policy of the government must be a
long-term one and it could not be changed every now and then. There were
complete chaos and confusion among parents, teachers and students due to the
Cabinet decision.
Advocate General A.Navaneetha Krishnan had said it
was a policy decision of the government that the equitable education system was
against the interests of the future generations. The parents wanted better
education for their children and freedom to choose any system of education. The
State government could not compel the students to undergo particular system of
education, he said adding ‘it was injurious to the Public health.’ On the loss
of Rs.200 crore to the exchequer, the AG had replied that welfare of the
students was more important than the money involved.
While this is the stand taken by the State
government’s lawyer, the School Education Minister had given completely the
opposite version. School Education Minister C.V.Shanmugam on May 26 (the same
day when the Advocate General told the High Court that the government’s policy
decision was against Samacheer Kalvi) that the ADMK government would not
abandon Samacheer Kalvi and would most certainly be implemented by the
government. The Minister’s assurance was given to the team including CPM
legislator A.Soundararajan, State Committee member Arumuga Nayinar and Students
Federation of India representatives. According to the Cabinet decision,
half-baked implementation would not improve quality of education and therefore
it was decided to introduce the system based on recommendations from the expert
committee (to be appointed), he had said.
While the government itself seems to be in
confusion, when ordering issue of notice to the State government, the Justices
had wondered whether a policy decision could be taken after the High Court and
the Supreme Court had upheld the Act regarding Samacheer Kalvi? When there was
an Act, could an action be taken overlooking it though cabinet meeting? “The
object of the Act is very clear. All the eminent people, after detailed
discussions and deliberations have recommended uniform syllabus and it cannot
be thrown out” the Bench said and directed the AG to advise the government to
take good decision considering the interests of the public and students. The government
should also explain whether new books should be printed as the books already
printed at a cost of Rs.200 cr. was ready for distribution. The Justices posed
these three questions and directed the government to give detailed reply. 1.
When there is an Act regarding Samacheer Kalvi, can the government take a
policy decision against it? 2. After the High Court and the Supreme Court
delivered judgements upholding the Act do the government have authority to act
overlooking it? 3. Is it correct to spend public money again after getting the
books printed at a cost of Rs.200 crore? The case has been posted on 8th
June. As it is the ADMK government seems to be caught in an inexplicable
situation.
While on the policy side there is no much of
confusion, printing of school text books following the decision to defer
implementation of Samacheer Kalvi (Equitable Standard School Education) after
which the TN Text Book Corporation was asked to print text books as per the old
syllabus, also seems to be in a quandary. The Corporation floated tenders and
May 27 was the last day for submission of bids. Only 80 printers had made the
bid and according to officials in addition to regular printers of text books,
several media houses that bring out newspapers and magazines, have also
expressed interest. Sources said top priority would be accorded to printing the
textbooks of Class X. A total number of 6.5 crore text books are to be printed
out at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crore. It may take about three months’ time
to finish printing books for all classes from I to X.
But the schools have been strictly told not to open
before June 15. So students are unlikely to get their text books on the
reopening day or for three months after that. What will they do? The officials
coolly say, “Schools will be able to manage, as they might have old copies and
moreover, the textbooks are available online.”
While the students face uncertainty after the
opening of schools their parents are in a state of fix in paying exorbitant
school fees demanded by private schools, whose loot was under check during the
DMK rule. When asked about managements of schools collecting exorbitant fees,
emboldened by the ADMK coming to power, Chief Minister Jayalalitha had
callously said, “The State government is not connected with school fees, it is
between the schools and the committee (appointed by the previous government to
fix fees). If school managements had any grievance they can approach the
government.” She was speaking for school managements and not for parents who
voted her to power. Following this stand of the CM and the move to defer
Samacheer Kalvi, there were a spate of advertisements in newspapers issued by
managements of private schools and matriculation schools and their associations
thanking Jayalalitha.
The Tamil Nadu Nursery, Primary, Matriculation and
Higher Secondary Schools Managements Association had moved the High Court
pleading in defence of the ADMK government’s steps in education field. Various
associations of private schools had demanded autonomy to fix school fees after
thanking Jayalalitha for her ‘bold move to scrap Samacheer Kalvi’, even while a
woman working in a textile shop in Coimbatore, committed self immolation and
died unable to arrange for Rs.25,000 for admitting her son in LKG class. As
Kalaignar said “it is for those who voted (for ADMK alliance) to repent.” Whatelse
can be done when the mainstream media as a whole have turned a blind eye to the
plight of people, black out all news of opposition to the ADMK government’s
wrong moves and have turned into their ‘Amma’s voice’.
In all, the field of school education is in total
disarray and the future of younger generations in stake – the first gift of
Jayalalitha to people who voted her party to power!
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