As parties in the State continue to release their manifestos, the demand to bring education back to the State list has echoed strongly in most of them. From the DMK, AIADMK to NTK and VCK, most parties have continuously iterated that education be moved to the State list. This demand was also voiced during the 2021 Assembly election.

Similarly, many parties including the DMK, AIADMK, and VCK have stressed on the need to continue the two-language formula that is being practiced in the State. 

While the CPI(M) has stressed on teaching in the mother tongue up until higher education and making Tamil mandatory in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools, the NTK stated that Tamil must be the medium of instruction for all levels, including professional courses such as medicine, law, and engineering.

STEM learning centres

In other measures, the AIADMK has promised to restructure the curriculum to include computer science as a sixth subject for Classes 6 to 10, and also set up STEM learning centres. They have also promised to revive the laptop scheme for government and government-aided school children. They have also promised to fill the vacant teacher and librarian posts, while the PMK has promised permanent appointments for temporary computer and special teachers in government schools.

The DMK has focussed on transforming Tamil Nadu into a zero-dropout State and extending the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme till Class 8. They also plan to bring digital sections to 300 libraries in the State by 2030.

Educationists noted that these election promises seem superficial and do not tackle the real problems that the State faces - such as caste violence on campuses. “The real issues that education system faces today in the State needs to be featured, but the parties have not paid attention to them”, an educationist noted.

CPI(M) and NTK has also given importance to education for children with disabilities from forming an inclusive environment to specialised centres for children with dyslexia and ADHD.

The BJP in its manifesto has promised to deposit ₹50,000 in the name of Class 8 girl students, redeemable only upon the successful completion of Class 12 in a bid to reduce dropout rates among girls from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.

The party pledges to provide first-generation undergraduate and post-graduate students with interest-free education loans of up to ₹10 lakh, which TVK has also promised of up to ₹20 lakh.

The Indian National Congress, in its manifesto, has promised to introduce a ‘Tuition Akka’ programme in an effort to bridge learning gaps, focusing on government schoolchildren.

Drug-free campuses

TVK and BJP have both promised to enforce drug-free campuses in the State. However, the VCK has been the only party in the State to recognise the exorbitant fees paid to schools and has advocated for free education from the primary level to research level.

“There are two issues that political parties must pay attention to. One is the regularisation of teachers, especially in physical education and computer science. Only if the teachers are happy with their job, it will be passed on to students. Second is ensuring that neighbourhood schools are declared so that the public is encouraged to take up equitable education instead of Model and Vetri schools,” said P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN).

He also pointed out that none of the parties has addressed how they will tackle the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan (VBSA) Bill. “It will make the role of a higher education minister useless. The Bill is going to change the landscape of higher education and nobody has even addressed it,” Mr. Gajendra Babu pointed out.

While the parties have all paid attention to education, child rights activists note that the buck ends there as most have skipped child welfare measures.

Special courts

Only CPI(M), DMK, and the BJP want to set up more special courts to fastrack POCSO cases.

CPI(M) has also proposed village-level monitoring committees to stop violence against children and the appointment of special officers to prevent child marriage.

Pointing out that the DMK’s promise to work towards zero dropout in the State was a good move, child rights activist Devaneyan Arasu said that this would eliminate child marriage, child labour and abuse.

“The conversation around child rights never comes up. They equate education with children and call it a day. As children do not have votes, their rights are never counted. But if it was addressed, it would translate into two votes – that of their parents,” he said.