SEMINAR ON PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN TAMILNADU
A seminar was organized on 25th July 2009, at Shri Natesan Vidyasala Matric Hr Sec School, Mannivakkam, near Tambaram, on the proposed educational reforms at school level, in which more than 500 parents, teachers from various matric schools, students and educationalists participated. Prof. R Balasubramaniam, Retd. Principal, A M Jain College, Meenambakkam, presided.
All the participants opposed the proposal to scrap 10th public examination and also introduction of uniform syllabus in Tamilnadu. They welcomed the Tamilnadu legislation to regulate private school fees with a caution that good schools should not be harassed.
Dr N Ramasubramanyan, Founder of Natesan School, dealt with all issues in detail, in his special address. He mentioned that proposal to scrap 10th public examination, is applicable to CBSE schools only, which is also not correct since there is no motivation for students to accomplish any target till 12th standard, which is too late. But there is definite need for reforming public examination which is at present a rote learning system. Introduction of seminars, workshops, practicals, continuous assessments etc. as part of public examination, would certainly enhance better learning skills. Opposition to the proposal by Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, to introduce uniform syllabus throughout the country is unfortunate. Uniform syllabus throughout the country would certainly be beneficial to parents and students considerably.
Introduction of uniform syllabus in Tamilnadu alone would lead to deterioration of quality education. In this regard, the statement made by Chief Minister, Tamilnadu in the legislative assembly, with a foresight and in the best interest of matric school students, has to be welcomed.
The noble objective of obviating exploitation of parents and students by passing legislation to regulate private school fees in Tamilnadu is certainly laudable. However, certain provisions of the legislation suffer from principles of equity and natural justice.
1. Empowering the Govt officials to fix the fees, administer and pass judicial orders u/s 3 (2) will be quiet inappropriate as executive and judicial power should not be with the same person.
2. Secondly, the central government’s right to education bill provides for free education to poor children to the extent of 25% of seats in private schools. The Government would offer some pittance as compensation which cannot be compared to the voucher system in the west. The Tamilnadu Government does not take into account such loss in the legislation.
3. To get recognition from the education department, private schools should provide excellent infrastructural facilities. Private teachers also demand very good salary. Otherwise, they have other employment avenues open to them, including lucrative e-teaching.
4. If the Tamilnadu government fixes low fees not commensurate with the infrastructural facilities, future growth and decent return on investment, private schools cannot survive. The provision regarding “The right to appeal” is inadequate.
5. Though this law is also applicable to private CBSE schools in Tamilnadu, ICSE schools (Presently numbering about 56 in Tamilnadu) seem to be out of the purview of this legislation.
6. The district committee U/s. 11, with the Chief Educational Officer, at its helm of affairs and a team of Govt. officials as members, has enormous powers of investigation of a school, search and seizure of documents, and application of criminal procedure code. This could lead to inspector or license raj.
7. Thus with the Damocles sword hanging above private schools, it is apprehended that private schools are under threat of nationalization in an indirect way.
8. There are different kinds of schools functioning. Government schools are liberally funded by the Government, Sarva Siksha Abyan Scheme, funds from MLAs, MPs, corporates and philanthropists.
There are private schools promoted by Corporates, which have no problem in releasing substantial funds for creating excellent infrastructure and payment of fabulous salaries to teachers.
There are private schools in which children of rich people, top corporate executives study. There will be huge inflow of funds into these schools.
There are professional fund-raisers, whose business is to seek donation from any one and every one, whether required or not. Some also use political and religious clout to collect donations. Vast resources are collected by such institutions by fair and foul methods and the end-use of funds cannot be traced in most of the cases.
There are other schools which are run with no other source except the limited resources from promoters. Majority of such promoters have good intention to serve the society without profit motive.
All the participants opposed the proposal to scrap 10th public examination and also introduction of uniform syllabus in Tamilnadu. They welcomed the Tamilnadu legislation to regulate private school fees with a caution that good schools should not be harassed.
Dr N Ramasubramanyan, Founder of Natesan School, dealt with all issues in detail, in his special address. He mentioned that proposal to scrap 10th public examination, is applicable to CBSE schools only, which is also not correct since there is no motivation for students to accomplish any target till 12th standard, which is too late. But there is definite need for reforming public examination which is at present a rote learning system. Introduction of seminars, workshops, practicals, continuous assessments etc. as part of public examination, would certainly enhance better learning skills. Opposition to the proposal by Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, to introduce uniform syllabus throughout the country is unfortunate. Uniform syllabus throughout the country would certainly be beneficial to parents and students considerably.
Introduction of uniform syllabus in Tamilnadu alone would lead to deterioration of quality education. In this regard, the statement made by Chief Minister, Tamilnadu in the legislative assembly, with a foresight and in the best interest of matric school students, has to be welcomed.
The noble objective of obviating exploitation of parents and students by passing legislation to regulate private school fees in Tamilnadu is certainly laudable. However, certain provisions of the legislation suffer from principles of equity and natural justice.
1. Empowering the Govt officials to fix the fees, administer and pass judicial orders u/s 3 (2) will be quiet inappropriate as executive and judicial power should not be with the same person.
2. Secondly, the central government’s right to education bill provides for free education to poor children to the extent of 25% of seats in private schools. The Government would offer some pittance as compensation which cannot be compared to the voucher system in the west. The Tamilnadu Government does not take into account such loss in the legislation.
3. To get recognition from the education department, private schools should provide excellent infrastructural facilities. Private teachers also demand very good salary. Otherwise, they have other employment avenues open to them, including lucrative e-teaching.
4. If the Tamilnadu government fixes low fees not commensurate with the infrastructural facilities, future growth and decent return on investment, private schools cannot survive. The provision regarding “The right to appeal” is inadequate.
5. Though this law is also applicable to private CBSE schools in Tamilnadu, ICSE schools (Presently numbering about 56 in Tamilnadu) seem to be out of the purview of this legislation.
6. The district committee U/s. 11, with the Chief Educational Officer, at its helm of affairs and a team of Govt. officials as members, has enormous powers of investigation of a school, search and seizure of documents, and application of criminal procedure code. This could lead to inspector or license raj.
7. Thus with the Damocles sword hanging above private schools, it is apprehended that private schools are under threat of nationalization in an indirect way.
8. There are different kinds of schools functioning. Government schools are liberally funded by the Government, Sarva Siksha Abyan Scheme, funds from MLAs, MPs, corporates and philanthropists.
There are private schools promoted by Corporates, which have no problem in releasing substantial funds for creating excellent infrastructure and payment of fabulous salaries to teachers.
There are private schools in which children of rich people, top corporate executives study. There will be huge inflow of funds into these schools.
There are professional fund-raisers, whose business is to seek donation from any one and every one, whether required or not. Some also use political and religious clout to collect donations. Vast resources are collected by such institutions by fair and foul methods and the end-use of funds cannot be traced in most of the cases.
There are other schools which are run with no other source except the limited resources from promoters. Majority of such promoters have good intention to serve the society without profit motive.
Fee structure cannot be the same for all such schools. But legislation has no criterion to take stock of such situation while determining the fees structure.
But, it is heartening to note that Minister of School Education has given assurance that suitable amendments would be made to make it fair and equitable to protect the interests of private schools.
Dr Ramasubramanyan, concluded by saying that education to every child can be made a reality only with public and private participation.
Gayathri Ramachandran, Principal of Natesan School, proposed the vote of thanks.
[This was reported in TIMES OF INDIA and DINAMALAR]
