Two years ago, when Anna University introduced engineering courses in Tamil, it was considered a revolutionary step in making technical education accessible to rural students. But students of the course now feel they may pass out of college without even getting to see textbooks in Tamil.
“We got three books in the first semester – physics, chemistry and fundamentals of computing, and just two in the second semester. We have been studying only notes till now, and next year we will graduate,” says a third-year student.
The university offers civil and mechanical engineering courses in Tamil in nearly 12 colleges. Nearly, 1,380 students are enrolled in them including 240 from Anna University in Chennai.
“When we ask for books, they say they have arrived and are in the stores and will be made available to us soon, but these are only for our juniors. Thankfully, professors explain concepts in English and Tamil, so we understand concepts,” said the student.
“Professors tell us that there are no Tamil books. So we depend on their notes and refer to English textbooks in the library. The notes are just enough to pass exams but there are many spelling mistakes and errors in diagrams and graphs,” said another third year student.
Students say they have been strictly asked not to talk about the lack of textbooks. And many of the students are not complaining either because they manage to clear the examinations.
“We do not have to run around for books to learn chapters. They give us notes like what coaching classes do. But it is a problem when it comes to subjects that have sums. These notes have just two or three solved illustrations,” said a student.
The students who come from Tamil medium schools and belong to the rural parts of the State are the ones who suffer the most. “Since most of the terms are in English, most of us refer to English books and also take up exams in English.” A student for Villupuram says that “since at least 40 per cent of the class has studied English in their schools and opted for Tamil medium only because they wanted the University tag, they are all fine with taking the exams in English. The rest of us try to study with them.”
A senior professor says the teachers try their best to explain in Tamil. “But because we don’t have reference or text books in Tamil, the knowledge is very classroom-centric.”
Earlier, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education was engaged in preparing text books in Tamil but now Anna University will be publishing them. “Books till the fourth semester have already arrived and they will soon be given to students. Our professors are in the process of translating books,” said a university official.
