Disappointing, say academicians

Terming the interim Budget as “disappointing,” academicians and educationists in the state said that there were no new major new announcements for both School and Higher education departments, which were expected by the teachers and students. School Education Department’s expenditure of Rs 1,324 crore for reimbursement to the students enrolled under Rights to Education (RTE) in private schools also was criticised.

“Instead of spending for this, the government could have utlised the money to upgrade the state-run schools on par with private institutions so that parents will evince interest send their children to government schools only,” said S Arumainathan, Parents-Teachers Association president. “The government claims that highest ever allocation of more than Rs 34,000 crore has been made for school Education. Accordingly, there is no clarity how the money had been spent without opening the schools,” Tamil Nadu Teachers Association president PK Ilamaran asked. He claimed that much-expected announcement, including of providing dearness allowance to the teachers, which was stalled and appointment of 1,500 PG teachers, who had already completed all the formalities including certificate verification was not made. “The budget highlights only about the past performance,” said Prince Gajendra Babu General Secretary, State Platform for Common School System - Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN). “As the budget did not commit to strengthen and widen the government schools, equitable access to quality education for all children cannot be achieved,” he claimed. On higher education front, Joint Action Council of College Teachers (JAC), state convenor R Dhamothran said, “there is nothing in the budget to talk about. The government should have consulted the academicians before preparing it.” However, he said that creating more than 150 government colleges so far across the state is a welcome move.