Supreme Court recently said Tamil Nadu should change its mindset on Hindi and identify land for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in every district. What is the govt’s stand?We will continue to defend our position through legal means as we are firm on the two-language policy. Tamil Nadu is not against Hindi or any language; we oppose imposition. A child from Usilampatti, Perambalur or Chengalpet who has studied only Tamil and English till Class V cannot suddenly be burdened with Hindi examinations from Class VI in JNVs. Whatever JNVs promise, our model schools already provide across all 38 districts. Many model school students have entered prestigious higher education institutions through the two-language policy. Navodaya may look beneficial on the surface. But in practice, it gives an advantage to children who already have access to the required language, while others may be left behind.The state budget includes schemes such as ‘Super Clean, Super Campus’ to improve school infrastructure. When will we start seeing results?It is a huge challenge. Academics remain our top priority, but enrolment and learning cannot improve without good infrastructure. It is not just about classrooms. Schools need proper toilets, laboratories and maintenance. We have identified the gaps and made a beginning. Over the next five years, we will work to fix them.Funding is crucial to these plans. The state school education budget appears to show a marginal reduction, while the Union govt has withheld Samagra Shiksha funds over policy differences. How will you bridge the gap?There has been no budget cut. DMK announced a higher figure before the election but left a substantial amount unspent. We have allocated more than what they spent and will spend it effectively. As for Union govt funding, around `5,000 crore is now pending. We will soon go to Delhi for talks. There are about five points of difference, with language policy being the major one. We will discuss what is practically possible and work to get the funds released.The previous govt also tried negotiations, but the Centre did not change its stand. What will be different now?One failed attempt does not mean we stop trying. Our position remains that children learn best through their mother tongue. Ultimately, we don’t want our students to suffer.Beyond funding, what course correction are you planning in the way children are taught?I am pushing a child-centric approach. A child should be happy while learning; education cannot be only about results. I have told the curriculum committee not to use terms such as ‘average student’ or even ‘slow learner’. Every child learns at a different pace and has different strengths. We are also making learning less intimidating, including the programme ‘Mathematics through stories’ at the primary level. The idea is to teach concepts through familiar stories and experiences children remember.The previous govt’s state education policy (SEP) also touched on some of these ideas. How different is your approach?I will not criticise whatever good work the previous govt has done. I will accept it. The problem was with execution and leakages. Take private school recognition renewals: if schools are asked to pay lakhs for approvals, how will they recover that money? The Kumbakonam fire showed the cost of compromised inspections. We have now digitised renewals. If the required certificates are in order, the system approves them. If not, it won’t. A computer neither sees caste nor takes money.On another major legal issue, Supreme Court has made TET mandatory for most in-service teachers and rejected review petitions. Will Tamil Nadu pursue a further challenge?Definitely. How can a teacher with just seven or eight years left before retirement suddenly be asked to clear TET? We are consulting advocates and will establish our case on legal grounds. We have also taken up the issue with Union govt. This will not affect new recruitment, where TET remains mandatory.You have spoken about children’s mental health and announced the ‘Thunai’ programme. What prompted it, and how will it work?Let me explain through an incident involving girl students whose behaviour in a video raised serious concerns. I immediately called the headmaster, CEO, teachers, parents and students. CM Vijay told me, “Don’t view those children as the accused. They are victims.” That changed my perspective. Society, family circumstances and the pressures children are put through can contribute to such behaviour. One of the students had problems at home and had sought emotional comfort outside the family, where an adult had misled her. Constantly insulting or belittling children can lead to trauma. ‘Thunai’ will focus on such early intervention and give emotional support. A pilot project will begin soon.Schools in southern Tamil Nadu are seeing caste clashes, sometimes reflected on Instagram. Several Justice Chandru Committee recommendations remain pending. When will they be implemented?I have already stated that caste-identifying threads should not be worn in schools. I am not against religious symbols such as sacred ash, kumkum or an Ayyappa mala. But saying Dalits should wear one thread and another caste a different one is dangerous. Uniforms, meals and other school schemes are meant to reduce inequalities. The committee’s objective is right, and measures such as grievance cells and awareness campaigns are important. In a clash, the child who is beaten and the one who attacks are both mine. Instead of expelling or severely punishing him, we should give him space and another chance.Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesofindia.com
