CHENNAI: Establishing more Navodaya Schools was the only solution to NEET issue in Tamil Nadu, opined academician and former vice chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy.
In an open appeal to the political leaders in the State, he pointed out that there were 661 Navodaya Schools in 638 districts across the country – except Tamil Nadu – where more than three lakh students are enrolled.
According to him, data shows that in 2019, more than 20 per cent of applicants from these schools cleared IIT JEE Main, while more than 80 per cent of their students qualified for medical admission.
However, there is a misconception in the State about the language policy followed in Navodaya system, he said. "In these schools the medium of instructions up to Class 8 is the regional language, with English as the second language. Subsequently, English becomes the medium of instruction with regional language (or any other) being taught as the second language. Therefore, the Navodaya system does not violate the Tamil Nadu Learning Act, 2006," he claimed.
The leaders of all political parties, who are concerned about the welfare and upliftment of rural people, should prevail upon the State government to change its rigid mind-set and allow the establishment of Navodaya schools in the State so that thousands of rural students could avail the excellent all-round education at free of cost, he appealed.