Learning Tamil made compulsory in Tamil Nadu !

[RRK]

Petitions challenging Tamil Learning Act rejected


J. Venkatesan



Learning local language will be in the interest of child: court



Law makes Tamil as compulsory subject from Standards I to X
Bench declines to interfere with High Court verdict


New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected petitions challenging a legislation passed by the Tamil Nadu government making Tamil a compulsory subject from Standards I to X in all schools in the State from academic year 2006-2007.

A Bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice J.M. Panchal dismissed, at the admission stage, special leave petitions filed by the Kanyakumari District Malayala Samajam and the Yogakshema Sabha, Kanyakumari, against a Madras High Court judgment upholding the constitutional validity of the law.
Justice Pasayat cited an earlier apex court judgment, which had said that resistance to learn local language would not be in the interest of the country?s unity. Learning the local language would be in the interest of the child.
The petitioners challenged Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act 2006 gazetted on June 12, 2006. While making compulsory Tamil as the first language and English, the second language, it made study of any other language by students who had neither Tamil nor English as their mother tongue optional.
Under the law, Tamil was made compulsory for students of Standard I from academic year 2006-07. They must learn Tamil as compulsory language in the subsequent years and continue to do so till Standard X.

Unfettered rights



Senior counsel C.S. Rajan and U.R. Lalit, appearing for the petitioners, contended that the law curtailed the unfettered rights of minority institutions to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice guaranteed under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution.

They argued that introduction of a foreign language to children of tender age was not desirable and cited the examples of Maharashtra and Karnataka, where learning of Marathi and Kannada had been made compulsory from fifth standard onwards.

Justice Pasayat intervened and asked counsel, ?If children can learn Marathi or Kannada from Class V, what is the difficulty in children learning Tamil from class I??

The petitioners submitted that by making the learning of Tamil compulsory, people whose mother tongue was a language other than Tamil could give education to their children in that language only as an optional subject. This would be violative of the constitutional provisions.
The Bench dismissed the SLPs and declined to interfere with the High Court judgment dated August 23, 2007.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021957810100.htm

more links:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/274453.html

http://www.tn.gov.in/acts-rules/law/ACT_13_136_12JUN06.pdf ( govt notice)


This is to be implemented in phased manner. Implementation will start with I standard and cover grades one by one, every year.
Please plan your child education accordingly.

[b2b]

I think it is ok. Only thing is it creates difficulties for those migrating to the state for temporary periods.

I have seen some such example in Maharashtra. Pupils in 7th / 8th standard find it difficult to suddenly pick up a new language. But children pick up lanugages pretty fast and knowing many languages is a good asset in long term.

[rmd5464]

Nothing against it as long as it is introduced sensibly..

a student moving into TN for the 8th grade, with no previous tamil knowledge, must be taught from the basics without being clubbed with others who have been learning it for years.

[Bobus]

The Act extends to

(i) State and Local Govt run schools - am okay with this.

(ii) Private educational institutions that dont take Govt aid - I dont like this,

and does not extend to schools runs by Central Govt e.g. Kendriya Vidyalayas.

TN is one state that did not take advantage of the Navodaya School Scheme which is run by the Central Govt - coz of language issues. Politicians who exhibit cheap language chauvinism do so at the cost of the people.

[ILuvHyd]

Also, what about schools that teach CBSE and International Schools? "Kendriya Vidyalayams" under the control of Central Govt. come to mind.

[layman]

It seems in Karnataka, Kannada is compulsory even in central schools and private schools.
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/kannada-made-compulsary-in-schools/28495-3.html

http://www.aol.in/news/story/2007062...nal/index.html

Also, this link says that the medium of instruction can only be Kannada until 5th standard for Gov recognized schools (means we have to learn science/math in Kannada language). Is that true? (I am remembering again the kanth langoth!:emwink:)

Also, Marathi is compulsory from Class I to class X in Maharashtra including central schools?
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/marathi-a-must-in-maharashtra-schools/28502-3.html

[MadMax]

Good. Other states should also follow suite.

[Bobus]

Also, this link says that the medium of instruction can only be Kannada until 5th standard for Gov recognized schools (means we have to learn science/math in Kannada language). Is that true? (I am remembering again the kanth langoth!:emwink:)

[/quote]

Only if the school wants recognition from the Karnataka Govt. What does one lose if the Govt does not recognize one's school?

[layman]

Only if the school wants recognition from the Karnataka Govt. What does one lose if the Govt does not recognize one's school?[/quote]
One may not be able to get into state board engineering/medical/professional colleges and the private colleges that follow the state curriculum.

[ILuvHyd]

One may not be able to get into state board engineering/medical/professional colleges.[/quote]
Not really I think. Those students have to appear for 10th class exams as private students (like those who studied on their own)