MADURAI: The general secretary of SPCSS-TN Mr.P.B.Prince Gajendra Babu has made a public appeal to the Tamil Nadu State government to rethink and give up the idea of implementing ‘Model Schools’ concept in Tamil Nadu because model schools will weaken public-funded government schools and government aided schools in the State. This appeal was made by him as general secretary of State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu.
In an important press statement released by him on 3rd March 2023, he said that the model school concept is against the spirit of ‘SamacheerKalvi’ which is a dream of late Chief Minister ‘Kalaignar’ Dr.M.Karunanidhi.
“The National Education Policy 2020 provides for a model school in every district and the Tamil Nadu government is also coming our with model schools scheme to select the best out of the government school students and given them all facilities to prepare themselves for Board examinations and other National Testing Agency assessments like NEET, CUET etc. Model schools may be a boon for the selected students, but what will happen to the rest of the children who are studying in various other Government schools and Government aided schools. Poor students are facing various problems in BC and MBC welfare schools, and in schools run by corporation and local bodies,” Mr.Prince Gajendra Babu has pointed out in his press statement.
EQUITABLE EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO ALL:
He had instead suggested that the Tamil Nadu State government can declare every government and aided school as a neighbourhood school and they be provided with all facilities for children. “Equitable education and access are important. The State government may come out with a white paper on the status of school education and the funds needed for providing equitable education for all. Place a detailed picture before the public and maybe a special education cess can be collected to provide quality equitable education to all through government and aided schools,” Prince Gajendra Babu has appealed to the public.
TN MODEL SCHOOLS IDEA IS SHOCKING:
The SPCSS-TN general secretary Mr.Prince Gajendra Babu has said that the model school concept is very shocking and is also shocking to learn that the Tamil Nadu government has constituted a body under the name ‘Tamil Nadu Model Schools’ and a retired IAS officer is appointed as a Member-Secretary and this body is to conduct a baseline assessment for Class 9 students in all districts to select students for admission into model schools.
“Having denied equitable access to education for all at the primary level classes, the government is assessing the students at secondary level. Treating all students as equals when education access was different must be borne in mind. What is the benchmark for school Headmaster to identify right students? Then who are the rest of the students and not getting into ‘Tamil Nadu model schools. So, the model schools may be a boon for selected students, but what will happen to the rest of children who are studying in Adi Dravidar schools, forest department schools, tribal children, aided schools, BC and MBC welfare schools? So, the SPCSS-TN appeals to the Government of Tamil Nadu to give up the idea of Model Schools, and strengthen all government and aided schools,” Mr.Prince Gajendra Babu had urged the Tamil Nadu government through his press statement on March 3rd 2023.
