Bring in legislation to make Tamil medium of instruction compulsory in schools: PMK

VILLUPURAM: PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to bring in legislation to make Tamil medium of instruction compulsory in all schools in the state.
The PMK leader welcomed chief minister M K Stalin's statement that he would strive hard to get official language status for all languages including Tamil listed in the eighth schedule of the Constitution. Ramadoss said if the chief minister’s intentions are true, as the first step, he should pass legislation making Tamil or mother tongue of the students as the medium of instruction until the last class (12) in schools.
"It is the most urgent and necessary requirement for the development of Tamil language," said Ramadoss.
He said the government should ensure that the high court and Supreme Court accept the government's legislation in making Tamil a compulsory medium of instruction in schools.
He pointed out that Section (F) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009 has declared that 'mother tongue must be medium of instruction as far as practicable'.
He said the Tamil Nadu government must bring in an amendment to remove the 'as far as practicable' phrase in Section (F) of the RTE Act and send it for approval of the President.
"The government must make the amendment in the RTE and bring in legislation making Tamil as a compulsory medium of instruction in a phased manner and pass the legislation in the first session of the legislative assembly," demanded Ramadoss.