The School Education Protection Movement has urged that children should not be used as instruments to fulfil the profit motives of education businesses and emphasised the need to safeguard children’s right to education.

The demand was made in the “Thamaraikarai Education Declaration” released during a three-day meeting of the State coordinators of the movement held at Thamaraikarai in Bargur hills in Anthiyur taluk recently. More than 35 regional and state coordinators participated in the meeting held from May 22 to 24.

The movement has been carrying out initiatives for the development of government schools through programmes such as “One Person, One School”, village education committees and reading movements for children. It has also been offering suggestions to the government for the effective functioning of School Management Committees in government schools.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the progress achieved through activities undertaken over the past year and on future plans, following which action plans were prepared.

The declaration stressed that education tax collected by local bodies should be fully utilised for improving infrastructure in government schools. It also sought the appointment of one teacher per class and one teacher per subject in all government schools, including primary schools, besides appointing one teacher for every 20 students.

Among other demands, the declaration called for extending the breakfast, noon meal and school uniform schemes up to Class XII and starting kindergarten sections in all government primary schools.

It also urged the government to provide 50% reservation in government employment for Tamil-medium students studying in government schools and to restructure reservation in undergraduate professional courses based on the proportion of government school students.