TN Minister Poyyamozhi Denies Plans to Privatise 500 Government Schools
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Chennai, Jan 2 (NationPress) The School Education Minister of Tamil Nadu, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, made it clear on Thursday that the state administration does not have any intentions of privatizing 500 government schools.
This announcement follows criticism from various opposition parties and allies, including the CPI-M, regarding rumors suggesting a potential privatization of these institutions.
While speaking to the media, the minister stressed that the DMK government is devoted to preserving the integrity of government schools.
“Government schools are akin to our own children; no one will be permitted to adopt them,” he remarked.
Poyyamozhi explained that while some private schools have proposed to aid in the development of government schools as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, this should not be interpreted as an effort to privatize these schools.
The Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association also clarified that there are no intentions to take over government schools but rather to support their advancement through CSR programs.
The opposition party BJP and DMK ally CPI-M have expressed significant concerns regarding the reported plans.
CPI-M stated on Wednesday that any such moves would jeopardize the education of children from economically disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
The party pointed out that Tamil Nadu boasts over 58,000 schools, with 37,579 government-run institutions, including 24,310 primary schools, 7,024 middle schools, 3,135 high schools, and 3,110 higher secondary schools. Additionally, there are 8,328 government-aided schools in the state, with around 46 lakh students enrolled in government schools.
In contrast, the CPI-M highlighted that approximately 12,000 private schools educate about 65 lakh students.
Despite their smaller number, private schools are often viewed as dominating the education landscape in Tamil Nadu.
The party criticized the stark differences in infrastructure and resources between private and government schools, urging the state government to focus on enhancing government schools instead of merging them with private entities.
Furthermore, Poyyamozhi criticized the BJP-led Central government for delaying funds allocated for the education sector in the state. He claimed that the Central government only releases funds to Tamil Nadu if the state complies with its policies. The minister reaffirmed the DMK government’s dedication to fortifying government schools and refuted any claims regarding privatization or adoption by private parties.
