Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday wondered whether the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime had put on hold the Uniform System of Education introduced by his government solely because the texts included a poem he had penned in connection with the World Classical Tamil Conference held last year.
Recalling that his theme song for the conference had strung together the names of classical works such as Tholkappiam, Silappathikaram, Manimekalai, Jeevaka Chinthamani, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi and authors such as Kamban and Avvaiyar, the DMK president asked in a statement whether the presence of this song in the new textbooks was the only reason for the government's decision.
“If that is so, there is nothing wrong in utilising the same textbooks after deleting my name or the whole song itself,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.
Recounting the long process that preceded the implementation of Samacheer Kalvi, beginning with the appointment of an expert committee to the promulgation of an ordinance based on recommendations by academics, experts and officials, the DMK chief said that the uniform system of education, aimed at procuring real equality in all aspects of education and integrating multiple streams of study under a single education board, was implemented after considerable forethought and study. “It was not a hasty decision.”
Mr. Karunanidhi quoted remarks made by the AIADMK's allies on the government's decision not to implement the uniform system this year and noted that they had raised questions such as whether textbooks produced at a cost of Rs.200 crore would be abandoned and whether the sudden policy change would not create confusion among students and teachers.
He also cited observations made by judges hearing a public interest litigation against the government's move and said the High Court had asked whether a legislation upheld by the judiciary could be stalled by a Cabinet decision. “In this backdrop, it can be understood that the government's sole aim is to oppose something introduced by the DMK government.”
