Launch of Consortium of Minority Schools in Tamil Nadu-State level body of religious minority school || Resolutions passed for Central and State Govt deliberations
Chennai, 28 November 2021: Consortium of Minority Schools is a state level body of Religious Minority Schools in Tamil Nadu. Initially it has as its members the leaders of the Catholic, Church of South India and Muslim Schools in Tamil Nadu.
The Consortium acknowledges the educational services rendered by the minority communities to the nation and its people in the periphery for many a century. It is feeling proud to say that the educational institutions of religious minorities have pioneered in democratizing the education in the country and empowered the all sections of the society and especially the marginalized. It is feeling honored to state that the educational institutions of the religious minorities have gifted a galaxy of leaders to serve the nation in multiple spheres. It is also taking credit in the fact that next to the government, it is the minority educational institutions have fronted education as a service.
To take forward this long and laudable legacy and to rededicate its commitment in nation building by rendering quality education to all and especially the underprivileged.
The consortium is also aware of changed contexts and new challenges of the time. The need for preserving the minority character and protecting rights of the minorities enshrined in the Indian Constitution unitedly has been a long time dream. This dream is realized today by launching of the Consortium of Minority Schools in Tamil Nadu.
The consortium today had its meeting which was attended by the following special invitees:
- Mr. Peter Alphonse, Chairperson, State Minority Commission
- Prof. K.M.Kader Mohideen, President, IUML
- Prof. Jawahirullah, MLA, President, Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi
- Mr. Inigo Irudyaraj, MLA, Trichy East, DMK
- Mr. Abdul Wahab, MLA, Palayamkottai, DMK
- Mr. P. Abdul Samadhu, MLA, MNMK
- Mr. Rubi R. Manoharan, MLA, Nanguneri, Cong.
- Mr. Aaloor Shanawas, MLA, VCK
- Mr. S. Rajesh Kumar, MLA, Killiyoor, Cong.
- Rev. Fr. Paul Benedict SJ, Education Coordinator, Chennai Province
The consortium today has deliberated on some of the issues that need to be addressed immediately by the State and Union Governments. Three major resolutions have been passed unanimously.
The Special invitees led by Peter Alphonse, Chairperson, State Minority Commission met media persons and discussed on the following resolutions.
1. Madras High Court Bench at Madurai has passed an order on 31 March 2021 on appointments and deployments in aided schools. The order of the high court has find a reasonable solution to the long pending issues in the aided schools. Keeping in mind the welfare of the students, the consortium appeals to the State Government to follow the order of the high Court in letter and spirit.
2. The Government of Tamil Nadu has introduced 7.5% reservation in all professional courses for the students studying in Government Schools. The consortium prays to the Government to extend this reservation to all aided minority schools, since all aided minority schools also primarily educate the socially disadvantaged and marginalized students.
3. The Union Government is vociferous in introducing the National Educational Policy (NEP). The consortium considers that the consultation held by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development is an eye wash. The rights of the States are shrunk. It would lead to more drop outs than now among the socially, educationally backward and poor students. Primary school students are burdened with the fear of centralized exan And NEP has not spoken anything about the rights of the minority educational institutions. The Union Government is expected to be a people's welfare government. But for the last one decade, it is proving to be a government of 'sheer management'. Therefore the consortium is requesting the State of Tamil Nadu to explain its stand explicitly on NEP and to be firm in not introducing NEP in the State.
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