What is the need to create awareness about private school students joining government schools ...? Anbumani Ramadhas

Anbumani Ramadoss, youth leader of PMK and member of the state assembly, stressed on the need to create awareness about the facilities for private school students to join government schools.

Statement issued by Ramdhas in this regard today (June 20):

“With the spread of coronavirus, the poor and middle class people are losing their livelihood and the educational future of the children of those families is in question.

It is unfortunate that children who are unable to continue their education in private schools due to economic conditions can go to government schools, but there is a lack of awareness about it.

The corona virus, which started spreading in Tamil Nadu in March last year, has not been brought under control till date. Corona, which has changed many times, is spreading rapidly. While the default is expected to return after the first wave turns low, the second wave spreads and peaks at the beginning of the process.

With fears of a third wave in the next few months, it is unclear when the livelihoods of the poor and middle class will improve. Already, it has become almost impossible to pay tuition fees for the past year and a half, with poor people unable to meet their basic needs including food.

While private schools cannot afford to continue paying fees, their next option is to enroll in government schools. Some affluent families have paid fees for private schools, obtained elective certificates and enrolled their children in government schools.

However, such opportunities are not available to students from families who are unable to pay their dues of private schools. Thousands of children are suffering due to non-enrolment in government schools and continuing their studies in private schools. Most of them are at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty.

In fact, such children are classified under the Education Act to attend public schools without any restrictions. As all students are required to pass the Education Act, students up to 8th standard in private schools can join the class that requires them to attend government schools without an elective certificate.

It is sufficient if those students only mention the reference number at the time of admission. Information about all students is recorded in the Educational Management Information System of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Since that information is linked to the student's reference number, the student's academic information can be easily accessed through the reference number. With them, government schools can create new optional certificates for students.

Even though this facility has been introduced since last few years, there is not enough awareness among students and parents about it. In many places even the teachers were unaware of this facility. So many students leave their studies midway without taking advantage of the opportunity to join government schools. It should be stopped.

Children who are unable to continue their education in private schools due to economic crisis should be made aware of the possibility of enrolling in government schools without alternative certification.

In particular, loudspeakers should be installed in vehicles in the surrounding areas on behalf of every government school so that people can be made aware of this facility.

Further, the government should mandate that disadvantaged students be allowed to continue their studies in private schools if they are unable to pay the fees. They can be allowed to charge later.

The government should ensure that no child's education is hampered by the overall economic crisis."

Thus said Ramdhas.