Fill vacancies of Tamil teachers in K’taka schools: EPS to Yedi

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, on Thursday, wrote a DO letter to his counterpart in Karnataka BS Yediyurappa “to fill vacancies of Tamil teachers in government and government-aided schools in Karnataka”.

Quoting the representation sent by Karnataka Tamil School and College Teachers Association, Palaniswami said, “there are many vacancies of Tamil teachers in government and government-aided schools” and the vacancies have hampered the education of Tamil students in Karnataka.

Karnataka government had started many Tamil schools in various districts of Karnataka, over the years, to enable Tamil students to study in their mother tongue. Karnataka government had also granted approval and provided grants for private Tamil schools.

However, due to pressure from fringe groups, Karnataka government had stopped granting approval and grants to private Tamil schools and had not filled the vacancies of Tamil teachers. Owing to non-filling up of Tamil teachers many Tamil schools have been turned into other language schools.

Palaniswami, recalling the significant contributions made by Tamils to the all-round economic contribution of Karnataka, said: “Tamilians have made immense contribution in developing Kolar gold mines, Hutti gold mines, Sandur Manganese mines, coffee estates in Chikmagalur, Mangalore and so on. They (Tamilians) have also been playing a major role in construction and agricultural sector in Karnataka”.

Palaniswami further demanded Yediyurappa to reopen Tamil schools which were recently closed due to not filling up the vacancies, to grant recognition to open new private schools with Tamil as the medium of instruction and to restore Tamil schools which have been converted into other language schools.

Due to pressure from fringe groups, Karnataka had stopped granting approval and grants to private Tamil schools and had not filled the vacancies of Tamil teachers