Changes in education system, an attention-gaining act: DMK

Stating that hastily announced ‘reforms’ of school education department were endangering the interests of students, Stalin said the department should abstain from attention-grabbing stunts masquerading as ‘daily announcements’ and set up a core panel of accomplished educationalists to suggest and implement meaningful reforms in education department keeping in mind the welfare of students. 

Referring to the way GO was passed to introduced public exam for class XI, the Leader of Opposition said that the haste with which it was passed has led to doubts whether the intent of the GO was noble or was it just a facade to the gross ineptitude of the AIADMK government. 

Stating that it was unethical to create a reductionist opinion that it was the half-hearted teaching of class 11 syllabus which was resulting in lowering of standards among students and the lack of confidence to face all India entrance examinations, the former deputy chief minister recalled at length the recommendations of Kothari Committee and said the blunt rhetoric laced propaganda that it was the non-conduct of class 11 examination which impacts learning among students is thoroughly unwarranted and patently unethical. 

Seeking to know if the Cabinet had discussed the impact of the GO before passing the same, Stalin also asked if due consideration was given to the impact three successive public exams would have on the mental health of the students. 

Accusing the AIADMK of “engaging in stunts like introducing Grade system, change in uniform, public examination for class 11 instead of proactive measures like upgrading the primary and secondary education, upgrading pedagogy, ramping up teacher recruitments,” the LoP said, “Attention-grabbing daily announcements’ will never improve the standard of education.” 

It is indeed imperative that the government starts to think about how to alleviate the stressful situation that students face due to three consecutive public examinations and how to improve the quality of schools to match up to the national standards.

The PMK welcomed the revamp of educational system and termed it as a good beginning. PMK founder Ramadoss, in a statement, said, that the government should monitor the system, as such a revamp was happening for the first time.