Uniform System of School Education Debate

Two different views on Uniform System of School Education
Published in Muslim Murasu, July 2011

I always take neutral stand. Education in Tamilnadu started to deteriorate in late sixties and early seventies. After 42 years only Tamilians who have migrated to foreign lands are able to write. Tamilnadu that produced eminent intellectuals, creators and thinkers some time back is no more the same. Tamil is now only receiving from outside. Tamil diaspora are giving lifeline to Tamil. Their service to Tamil warrants appreciation.
Deterioration in Tamilnadu should be stopped. There exists a staggering difference between urban schools and rural schools. State board, matriculation, oriental board and Anglo-Indian board, these four boards should be merged and one common Tamilnadu state secondary board with a common syllabus should be created. It should be an autonomous body. CBSE is already in place.
There is talk about education in mother tongue. Is it education through mother language or education through Tamil language? People speaking different languages reside in Tamilnadu.
There should be one teacher for 30 students. My wife is a teacher. 140 students are sitting in a classroom. There is not adequate space even for 80 students. On an average, there is one teacher per 70 students provided today. There should be one inspector for 30 schools. And he should pay undivided attention to this task. But today there is one inspector per 400 schools. Inspections in schools are not proper.
Children should not trudge long distance in search of good education. Schools should be situated nearby. Quality education should be brought to where student lives. Government can operate kinder garten schools. There is robbery happening in fees. Equal education is not given. Schools should be run entirely by government administration.
Every one should be given equal and standard education. It need not be limited only to first standard and sixth standard classes. Recommendation does not have ‘equal’ word anywhere. It recommends ‘education of same quality’!
It is not possible to implement uniform education without trained teachers. The mission does not end with distributing books. There are no black boards in many schools. Some schools are operating with some facilities donated solely by individual philanthropists.
Life based on ideals and virtues is missing in Tamilnadu. It has disappeared. Teachers should own up this delinquency. They have missed for 30 years. Professionally sound engineers, doctors and lawyers will be available, but good human beings will not be produced. This is a major inadequacy in uniform education. Do you want a person rich in knowledge or a person rich in wisdom? I am talking in apolitical terms. Arignar Anna and Gnani Rajaji. Both are legends. There is no doubt about it. Today’s education system will produce many Annas, but not even a single Rajaji. Anna is not lacking in any way.
- Bharathi Baskaran

Tamil medium education and English medium education, both are in place in Tamilnadu. This is not uniform education. Government has not guaranteed education through Tamil. There is teaching language and then there is language that is taught. French is the medium of education in France. They learn French till sixth standard. They learn through French. Later from sixth standard they learn one additional European language. French is the medium of education from elementary level to research level.
There are lacunae in Muthukumaran report. Government can list down inadequacies. Even the previous government did not heed to infrastructure issues. But that cannot be a reason to abandon the mission.
Even before election, English medium schools management did not accept and were against uniform syllabus. Their argument was that quality is lacking.
Yashpal committee recommended reducing the syllabus burden. They stipulated weights to be carried on back. Chittibabu report also recommended reduction in load. Thiruchengode broiler poultry farming is being practiced. Children do not need such education, nor do the society. Inquisitive mentality and scientific temperament should be nurtured. Social and humane qualities should be fostered. Children are not race horses. Race schools are not needed.
Schools should be situated nearby. Only then uniform education goal will be completed. There is inadequacy in teacher-student ratio. Should primary health center wait till G.H like facilities are delivered? Four syllabuses are merged and one common syllabus is created. This is a progress. Let primary health care center be started with the facilities available now. Later buildings can be added.
Both the earlier government and the current dispensation have failed in delivering uniform education. There are discrepancies in both. Present government claims to accept uniform education in principle and tries to permanently put it in back-burner. This is an effort to enhance fleecing in education.
Scoring good marks in education does not suffice for quality. Matriculation system is of poor standard. Back-breaking academic burden, untrained teachers. Teachers are paid pittance. Schools with just one or two teachers can be reformed. Toilets are not provided.
But this has nothing to do with uniform education. Funds given through Sarva siksha abiyaan should not be used to buy cars. Toilets should be constructed.
Matriculation students enjoy roads laid down by government. In the same spirit they should accept uniform education plan offered by government. Else let them use their own roads. Responsibility to impart education rests with the government. Emergence of fake educational corridors should not be allowed. Our hearts court Macaulay. Thiruvalluvar is missing.
- Thozhar Tyagu