Samacheer Kalvi

Samacheer kalvi (Tamil: சமச்சீர் கல்வி) or Equitable education system is a Government of Tamil Nadu (India) programme to integrate the various educational systems within the state. The new system was introduced for classes I and V in the 2010 academic year. Samacheer kalvi a Tamil word meaning Uniform Syllabus is the initiative of the Tamil Nadu government bringing all streams of education in the State, except the CBSE, under a common platform State Board and Matriculation schools operate under the control and supervision of the State government. Government and Corporation schools which are fully owned and run by the State government adopt State Board syllabus and Matric schools which are run by private managements and recognised by the State government take to Matric syllabus. This difference in syllabi has been only up to Class X. There is already a common syllabus for Plus One and Plus Two (XI and XII) followed by State government, Corporation and Matriculation schools. Central Board schools are administered mostly by private managements and affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), functioning in Delhi and having regional offices in major cities. These schools adopt a separate syllabus. There are 3,474 Matriculation schools in Tamil Nadu following Matric syllabus. But there are only 159 CBSE schools in the State. Education comes under the Concurrent list - powers of controlling educational institutions being shared between the Central and State governments. So, certain policies of the State government have adverse effects on the fortunes of CBSE students. In 2008, for instance, the State government deprived CBSE students of opportunities to take part in State-organised sports events. There were/are some difficulties for CBSE students to get into the Engineering and Medical colleges which are controlled by the State government. First it was CBSE whose syllabus was considered tough. Next, the Matric syllabus came in par with CBSE. Later it was Matric syllabi that proved tougher than the CBSE. Now with the Uniform syllabus (Equitable Standards of Education), Matric schools will enjoy an upper hand over CBSE schools in syllabus. It is a move by the Government of Tamil Nadu to introduce a common syllabus for all schools - Matric, government, Corporation and Anglo-Indian schools for Classes I to X. As discussed in question No 1, there is already a common syllabus for Class XI and XII in force in all these schools. Uniform syllabus is introduced for Class I and VI from the Year 2010-11 and other classes thereafter. It is felt that Matric schools might be forced to follow the easy syllabus adopted by the government and Corporation schools. Matric schools insist on a ‘nationally competitive’ syllabus for their students. The minimum qualifying marks to pass is 33% in Central Board schools, both for X and XII. But it is 35% for Matric and State schools. As for exam pattern, the CBSE has decided to abolish board exams for Class X from the year 2011. This move has invited the displeasure of parents as they feel only external assessment of students’ ability is wholly reliable. The CBSE is said to be considering cancelling board exams for Class XII also. But Tamil Nadu government is against such drastic decisions. So, Matric schools will continue to have board exams for Class X and XII. Always, Matric schools are fully administered strictly by private managements. The government and Corporation schools have certain compulsions. They cannot do anything special and extra. For example, they follow only five subjects - Language, English, Maths, Science and Social Studies. But Matric schools have computer education from primary level. We also have G. K., current affairs, moral science and more. All government and Corporation schools do not have English medium. But all Matric schools do have it. Improving students in Spoken English, Interview skills, Group discussion skills etc. are the special features of Matric schools. Matric schools have better infrastructure. They inculcate a number of values and virtues in students. They enforce strict discipline on them. Importantly, Matric schools act with caution and take better care of the students with a staring fact in mind: if there is no quality education, student strength will come down affecting their fortunes at all levels. This hangs as Damocles sword over their heads. Teachers at govt. and Corporation schools are government staff whose job and pay have nothing to do with the quantum of their work. Even if the pass percentage is low there, the teachers will not be dismissed. Here in Matric schools the story is different. The teachers here must do well to get better pay and longer service. Every syllabus has its merits and demerits. CBSE is mostly preferred to in North India as the number of such schools functioning in States suggest. Here in Tamil Nadu, there are some good schools taking to CBSE syllabus. But the number is far less as parents’ patronage is a key factor. Gradual cutting down of syllabus and abolition of board exams are perceived to be the weak areas in CBSE as of today. How a student is taught and taken care of by teachers is much more important than syllabus. Able managements are a plus point. Those companies in India and abroad offering top jobs and paying top salaries never ask - ‘which syllabus did you study? Good marks, good English and other skills are the parameters that eventually decide the fate of a student.

^[1]