Students pursuing higher education can take their examination either in English or Tamil, irrespective of the medium of instruction, Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudy announced on Thursday.
Addressing a meeting after declaring open the Chendu College of Engineering and Technology, promoted by Khaderghani Charitable and Educational Trust at Zamin Endathur near Madurantakam, the Minister said a majority of rural students found it difficult to grasp the subjects taught in English in higher education courses, particularly in engineering colleges.
To help them, the State government decided to introduce Tamil as a medium of instruction in civic and mechanical engineering courses in institutions run by Anna University.
Similarly, language laboratories and semi-smart classrooms were set up in 67 government colleges. Further, it was decided to permit students, both in government and private colleges, to answer questions in the semester examinations either in Tamil or in English or in both, Mr. Ponmudy said.
Pointing out that countries such as China, Korea and Japan were able to achieve great heights in manufacturing and other industrial activities since they learnt the subjects in their mother language, the Minister said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government did not have anything against English language.
“We want our students to excel in their studies by pursuing knowledge in the language familiar to them,” he added.
Stating that the standards of higher education in the country were not on a par with those of developed countries, Mr. Ponmudy urged private educational institutions to adopt latest teaching methods such as smart classroom technique.
