Single-board system lauded

Common syllabus, textbooks for classes I and VI by 2010

The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to introduce equitable standard school education from the next year onwards has been welcomed. Initially the new education policy to have a single-board system will be implemented in the academic year (2010-11) for I and VI classes and in 2011-12 it will be expanded to other standards.

A Common Board will be created by merging all boards. Unlike other states, four streams of school systems are being followed in Tamil Nadu: State board, Matriculation, Anglo-Indian and Oriental. As for the medium of instructions, besides Tamil, other languages now being used would continue.

Educationists feel that the changes due from quite a long time would help improve quality of education in the State-run schools. Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal, at the 56th session of the Central Advisory Board on Education held in New Delhi appreciated the move and said: “I am happy to hear that the Tamil Nadu government has adopted a single-board system for equitable education.”

The new education policy was first discussed by the DMK in the 2006 elections. The party had promised to introduce ‘Samacheer Kalvi’ (equitable standard school education) if voted to power. Once the goal was achieved, the government appointed a committee headed by S Muthukumaran, former vice chancellor of Bharathidasan University, to study the possibilities of introducing equitable standard education in schools. And in 2007, Muthukumaran submitted his report. Initially the recommendations were welcomed with apprehension. Some private schools opposed it. But the government claims that all contentious issues have been resolved. All told, some private schools are still resisting this move. They are planning to challenge the government’s decision in the court.

“Muthukumaran committee held exhaustive consultations with all the stakeholders so they can’t say the government has taken a decision unilaterally. We are ready to face them in the court,” says School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu. Finally last week the state government announced its decision to implement the equitable education.

“It is a historic decision. And all praise to our Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for implementing the new changes. Lakhs of students and parents who are major stakeholders in the education system will benefit from it,” says Thangam.

“An expert committee will decide on the common text books and syllabus. The medium of instruction will be followed as it is now. In English medium schools English will continue and in minority schools like Kannada schools there will be a status quo,” he said.

But, the State Platform for School education — an organisation which fought for the implementation of equitable education — wants the government to print text books. Besides, it wants a comprehensive school education act. But what parents and students want the most is an improvement in the quality of education.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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