MADURAI: Parents and representatives of the Tamil Nadu Post Graduate Teachers Association urged the school education department to cancel the Government Order (G.O). No. 9 of January 2009 that curbed the commencement of new vocational courses in government schools, thus limiting the recruitment of teachers.
This demand comes amid the discontinuation of vocational groups, especially Agriculture, in schools including five in the Madurai district
Vocational courses such as Agriculture and Nursing have helped students pursue professional careers, especially those outside conventional academic streams.
The gradual closure of vocational groups in government schools across Tamil Nadu has raised concern among parents and teachers.
Around 800 schools in the state offer 12 vocational trades for Classes 11 and 12 and these include 329 schools offering Agriculture. However, G.O. No. 9 barred new vocational courses and instructor appointments without government approval, so many schools shut courses after the retirement of the course teachers.
In Madurai district alone, the Agriculture course was closed in five government schools last year. This academic year, Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Alanganallur also discontinued the Agriculture group despite retired teacher K Murugeswari offering to continue teaching for two more years through the School Management Committee.
Speaking to TNIE, Murugeswari said the closure is a major setback for rural students, noting that several students from the Alanganallur school had secured state first in Agriculture. She said Agriculture vocational students receive 5% reservation in Agriculture counselling, while nursing students get 20% reservation in Nursing counselling, with similar benefits available in other professional courses. "Many of my former students are now agriculture and veterinary officers, and these students are eligible for the 7.5% government school quota."
Speaking to TNIE, parent C Murugesan, said 20 students, including his son Saravanan, had applied for the Agriculture vocational group at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Alanganallur, but were denied admission after the school cited the retirement of the Agriculture teacher. His son has now joined the Commerce group with Special Tamil.
Tamil Nadu Post Graduate Teachers Association president P Pandi urged the government to revoke G.O. 9 instead of closing Agriculture vocational courses and recruit permanent teachers. He also called for syllabus revision, suggesting subjects like Biology and Chemistry be simplified to better suit vocational learners.
While HMs across the state are closing the Vocational groups, the School Education Department has been working to revamp vocational education over the past two years.
According to V Kirthika, Deputy Manager (Vocational Education), Project Management Unit of School Education Department in Chennai, the state government has introduced major reforms, including a State-Level Skill Education Committee, 80-hour annual internships for Class 12 vocational students from last year and a short-term skill training for Class 11 students.
Responding to the issue, a senior official from the School Education Department said the government has no intention of discontinuing Agriculture course and assured that schools would be instructed to continue the course. "The department is planning to recommend to the Teachers Recruitment Board the recruitment of teachers for Agriculture and other high-demand vocational courses."