Education in disarray

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 8^th 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!