Constitution to be part of school syllabi

It was revealed to the Assembly when School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan was replying to his party colleague.

Sengottaiyan admitted to the fact that school students should have adequate awareness about the Constitution. For this purpose, the state has been taking steps to add some key portions of the Constitution in the syllabi. It would give students from Class VI through XII an opportunity to learn the Constitution of India.

AIADMK MLA IS Inbadurai (Radhapuram) wanted to know if the addition of the Constitution to the syllabi was under the state’s consideration.

Sengottaiyan recalled the words of former CM CN Annadurai aka Anna as ‘Matran thottathu malligaiyum manakkum’ (the jasmine in another’s garden would also be fragrant), the connotation of which meant that those in the ranks of Opposition also have good things to their credit. Sengottaiyan made this reference when an Opposition legislator noted that the government was being partisan towards constituencies which have elected Opposition members in implementing development works.

Using the words of Anna, Sengottaiyan said the government was keen on serving the entire state and was meting equal treatment for all the constituencies.

Tamil Official Language Minister K Pandiarajan said the government was working to frame a special scheme on 11 folk art forms, including oyilattam and devaraattam, and is also considering inclusion of folk arts in culture wings in schools and colleges. “This would benefit at least 1 lakh artists,” he said.