Thoothukudi: College students in Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari boycotted classes on Monday in protest against state government’s decision to hold public exams for classes 5 and 8 students.
The one day strike led by the Students Federation of India (SFI), the students wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) received overwhelming response from undergraduate students of V O C college and Bishop Caldwell college in Thoothukudi. The agitated students demanded the immediate repeal of the government order issued in this regard, as they argued that public examinations at an early age would add to mental stress of the students and spoil their health. “This scheme may also increase drop-out rates in rural areas,” they said, adding, they would not give up their fight against the decision of government until it is withdrawn.
The SFI also warned state government that it would intensify the agitation by involving school students after their quarterly examinations are over.
The SFI students along with the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) also staged a demonstration in front of the Anna stadium at Vadaserry in Nagercoil. Reji Singh, state president of DYFI, addressing the protesters, complained that the scheme was part of the New Education Policy of the union government and this was to scare children from poor rural backgrounds from continuing their education. He suggested that government create the necessary infrastructure and appoint adequate teachers so as to ensure the quality of school education in the state.
The PMK president, G K Mani, who was at Tirunelveli on Monday, to participate in a party function responded to media persons on introducing public examinations for fifth and eighth class students and said that it was a needless decision and would only burden young students.
