Latest news with #SamacheerKalvi
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sources in journalism can be great teachers
The first decade of this century was critical for school education in India. Notably, the Union government launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme, aimed at achieving universal elementary education, and Parliament enacted the Right to Education Act. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu was experimenting with new initiatives, including introducing Montessori-inspired learning methods for primary students in the State's public school system, and Samacheer Kalvi, an attempt to bring uniformity in standards of school education. It was a great time to be on the education beat. Each of these initiatives, both at the national level as well as in the State, sparked debates on making education more accessible and better for all. They laid bare both the challenges within the public education system and the resistance from private schools to changes. They made clear the downside of hasty policy shifts without adequate groundwork, as well as the blatant class bias of private schools. There was a lot to learn every day, as we tried reporting on these crucial developments. However, not all of us immediately grasped the full import of the policy changes. We regularly spoke to government officials, teachers, principals, students, and parents. Luckily, we were also exposed to several committed practitioners and activists, who were closely engaged in the unfolding shifts. As a cub reporter covering school education, I was especially drawn to two of them: Professor V. Vasanthidevi, a former Vice-Chancellor and well-known activist, who passed away recently, and Dr. S.S. Rajagopalan, a retired headmaster who had decades of teaching and administrative experience. I would go to these senior activists and several others, including Aruna Rathnam, then an education specialist at UNICEF, and feminist scholar V. Geetha, for perspective. Their positions stemmed from an unwavering commitment to social and economic justice. Their interventions sought to democratise education. They would painstakingly expose the inequalities and inequities within our education systems, offering grounded solutions to address those. Their views, along with generous pointers from colleagues who had been on the beat before me, shaped my political understanding of education. As senior activists with busy schedules, they were always willing to spare time and explain their ideas at length. I remember thinking 'they must be great teachers.' I recall Prof. Vasanthidevi's involvement in an exercise on children's learning outcomes — found to be very low — and her comprehensive analysis of the problem as one of resources, pedagogy, and home environment, and not merely a student's 'ability', as is often claimed. With her persuasive argument in simple language, which zoomed into class inequality, and disparities of caste, gender, and geographic location, she tore apart the 'meritocracy' argument. Over the years my beats and location changed, but I was in touch with Prof. Vasanthidevi and Dr. SSR, as he is known. They, too, would check in from time to time or share feedback on a story. I last met Prof. Vasanthidevi in 2016 at her apartment in Chennai. This was for an interview when the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi fielded her in Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar (R.K. Nagar) in north Chennai, against Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Prof. Vasanthidevi seemed clear about her prospects in that election, but saw the campaign as an opportunity to interact with voters from the largely working-class locality, and highlight the neglect there. I asked about her own political beliefs and the factors that shaped them. She said, among other things, 'Politicisation is such an important part of education.' In a lifetime of activism, Prof. Vasanthidevi worked on a range of issues, and invariably circled back to the role of education for critical thought and change.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
School Education Minister responds to queries on TNSEP
Under the newly released Tamil Nadu State Education Policy (TNSEP) 2025, students would receive career guidance from Class 9 onwards along with training using local industry resources to get them employment-ready, Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said on Thursday. He also posted a series of videos on X that showed him answering questions from students and teachers from across the State on the TNSEP. Aimed at charting a career path for students, the government would introduce subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, coding and other courses aimed at developing entrepreneurs. Once the SEP is rolled out, rote-learning approach would be replaced by an application-based and skill-based system. Assessments would be based on understanding, clarity, problem-solving, and practical applications. For Classes 1 to 8, a formative assessment model would be followed that tests not only learning performance, but also life skills. Mr. Poyyamozhi clarified that Samacheer Kalvi textbooks would continue to be the base material for schools along with a mandate to update them every three years. The updation would include modern examples, local relevance, digital integration, and skill-based content, besides providing supplementary materials both in print and digital formats. Teachers, he said, would be central to this reform and digital platforms like 'Payirchi Paarvai' would help teachers enhance their skills. Peer mentoring, modular training, and leadership programmes would help build both subject expertise and modern teaching skills among teachers, who would also be given greater professional autonomy and recognition, he added. Mr. Poyyamozhi underscored the importance of following the two-language policy as well as removing the Class 11 public examination which helped in relieving unnecessary stress among students.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
G.K. Mani praising Karunanidhi in the T.N. Assembly angers PMK cadre
The recent calling attention motion in the State Assembly, wherein PMK's honourary president G.K. Mani urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and State Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan to name a university after former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, has upset scores of party cadre. Particularly since it comes at a time when the party is pulling out all stops to achieve their target of mobilising 10 lakh Vanniyar youth for the Vanniyar conference to be held in Mahabalipuram on May 11. At the event, the PMK is expected to single out the DMK for not implementing 10.5% internal reservations for Vanniyars within the MBC quota and refusing to conduct a caste census. During his speech, Mr. Mani had recounted his personal relationship with the former Chief Minister and his contribution to the field of education in Tamil Nadu, including his implementation of Samacheer Kalvi. 'In Tamil Nadu, several leaders have had universities named after them. Considering his contribution to education, I had told Dr. Ramadoss why shouldn't the multi-faceted former Chief Minister, Kalaignar, have a university named after him. We kindly ask the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to name a university after him and get the attention of Higher Education Minister in this regard,' he said. Several PMK leaders have privately expressed that Mr. Mani's decision to support the motion in the State Assembly couldn't be logically explained, especially at a time when PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has been consistently attacking the DMK government over Vanniyar reservations and caste census. A senior PMK leader said, 'We have a number of contentious issues with the DMK for which we have been continuously criticising them. To make such a demand in the Assembly at such a time is inexplicable.' A PMK MLA, who didn't want to be named, said he had no issues with Mr. Mani supporting the motion as Karunanidhi was fully deserving of having a university named after him. 'But the excessive, effusive praise he had showered on the former Chief Minister was unnecessary,' he said. A PMK office-bearer in Dharmapuri district said Mr. Mani's speech had caused a lot of resentment among the young cadre in the party and it could demoralise them. 'But, Thalaivar Mani couldn't have spoken this without getting the consent of Dr. Ramadoss ayya. As of now, it is best we ignore this,' he added. A PMK spokesperson said this was a needless distraction with the conference just couple of weeks away and Mr. Mani had been busy organising the rally. Sources close to Dr. Anbumani refused to comment if this was merely a symptom of the continuing tussle between himself and his father, Dr. Ramadoss. Mr. Mani was not available for comment.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. to soon establish university named after Karunanidhi in Kumbakonam: CM Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday (April 24, 2025) announced in the Legislative Assembly that the State government would soon establish a university in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, named after former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi. Mr. Stalin said the varsity would honour Karunanidhi's efforts toward the development of education in Tamil Nadu and his role in the formulation of various educational initiatives. The Chief Minister made the announcement in response to special calling attention motion under Rule 55 of The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules, brought in by Congress MLA K. Selvaperunthagai, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) MLA G.K. Mani, and others. Speaking on the motion, Mr. Selvaperunthagai pointed out that there are universities named after all former Chief Ministers. Highlighting Karunanidhi's pitch for State autonomy and his role in securing Chief Ministers the right to hoist the national flag on Independence Day, Mr. Stalin sought the varsity to be named after the former Chief Minister. Mr. Mani spoke about Karunanidhi's contribution toward the development of education and bringing forth Samacheer Kalvi (Equitable Standard School Education). Others who endorsed and spoke on the special attention motion for establishing a university named after Karunanidhi included Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi MLA Sinthanai Selvan, Communist Party of India (M) MLA V.P. Nagaimaali, Communist Party of India MLA T. Ramachandran, Vasudevanallur MLA T. Sadan Thirumalaikumar, Papanasam MLA M.H. Jawahirullah, Tiruchengode MLA E.R. Eswaran, and Panruti MLA T. Velmurugan. Leader of the House Duraimurugan and Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu also endorsed the motion. Mr. Mani and Mr. Selvaperunthagai requested the Chief Minister to make the announcement without any hesitation. 'Without any hesitation, I firmly announce that a university named after Karunanidhi will be established in Kumbakonam,' Mr. Stalin said. Members of the AIADMK and BJP neither backed nor opposed the proposal.
