Chennai: K. Nishitha, a Class 10 student of a matriculation school, was relieved after she finished her Tamil paper. She said Tamil was too difficult for her. Unlike French, Sanskrit or Hindi, Tamil had 47 chapters along with other assignments related to the subject. In some schools, Tamil language has been made compulsory this year.
Some parents and students also complained that Tamil has been made very difficult. K. Sarala, Nishitha’s mother, said that in St Michael’s school students are not allowed to take any other language paper like French, Sanskrit or Hindi.
“This batch they made the subject compulsory. They had an enormous portion. They did not even have a gap of one day to study. But before English exam, there was a gap of eight days,” she said.
Apart from 47 chapters, there were 10-letter writing and 50 proverbs for which only two marks had been allotted. They also had 25 topics to study in which there was a one five-mark essay. Students and parents also said the grammar portion was very difficult. Tamil paper-1 has prose and poem and Tamil-2 grammar lessons and supplementary lessons along with letter writing.
Further, Nishitha said they had been studying Tamil language since Class 6. For other batches, it was not compulsory. She said, “It was so difficult for everyone that most of them did not learn it properly. I mugged it up and forgot most of it. It becomes a burden along with other subjects to learn.”
Another parent, Jenacious Priya, said, “They are focussing on students in rural areas but not on schools in the metro. Apart from 47 chapters there are small units for two marks and five marks. It doesn’t make sense.” Her son Andrew Josh who studies in Don Bosco said he doesn’t want to take up Tamil anymore in his life. “I will go for German or French after this. In Plus-2, all subjects would be tough, as I want to pursue science. I can’t think of taking up Tamil subject,” he said. Parents also said out of a class of 50, only five or six students take up Tamil. They say the state government should reduce the burden and make them enjoy the subject.
G. Sujatha, a teacher from Alandur Municipal School, said Tamil paper is very difficult and it becomes a burden for students. “The state government should look into the matter, they should reduce so many chapters. Students are not able to cope up with the chapters.”
