Tamil Nadu govt allows aided schools to begin English medium sections

CHENNAI: The state government has issued orders allowing government-aided schools to begin English medium sections.
Tamil Nadu in 1990-91 allowed government aided schools, administered by private management, to open English medium sections only for high and higher secondary students studying under the self-financing stream. Their counterparts studying in aided sections were not provided with this option.

In 2008-09, the method of collecting special fees from English medium students was abolished and schools were allowed to collect only a tuition fee of Rs.250-500 per year.

Against this backdrop, the state government in 2012-13 announced that English medium sections would be started in selected government schools located at rural areas. Accordingly, 22,400 students from 320 schools were enrolled in these sections in the particular year.

From then on, more and more students opted for English medium and at present more than 6.6 lakh government school students in Tamil Nadu study in English medium classes.

Against this backdrop, the state school education department has decided to extend this benefit to aided schools as well in order to reduce the migration to private matriculation schools.

The government, in its order dated July 20, has framed admission guidelines thereby restricting aided schools from creating new English medium sections. Instead they are allowed to divide the existing Tamil medium sections into two.

After division, the ratio between number of English and Tamil medium students in a school should be 50:50 and no additional fees should be collected from English medium students.

Experts say that this order would have a positive impact on aided schools which are managed by the government itself.

On the other hand, most aided schools, administered by private managements, already have English medium classes functional in their own institutions. These are administered either by using money from their own pockets or funds allocated towards Tamil medium sections, said Annamalai, a retired aided school teacher.

The government in its recent order has categorically said that funds will not be allocated for existing English medium sections under the self-financing stream and it will bear the cost incurred towards sections separated from Tamil medium.

Pradeep Yadav, state school education secretary, has directed all the District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) to inspect aided schools and verify whether they have adequate number of teachers to handle English medium sections and other necessary facilities before according permission to admit students.