Chennai: Expressing concern about the decrease in the number of students getting into civil services like IAS, IFS and IITs, IIMs, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged the state government to make substantive changes to the school curriculum to increase the presence of Tamil Nadu students.
While taking part in the 150th-anniversary celebrations of Lady Sivaswami Ayyar Girls Higher Secondary School here she said, “Once upon a time at least three out of ten candidates in IAS and IFS are from Tamil Nadu. But, that numbers have come down and our presence in governance and in IITs, IIMs has reduced.”
She suggested that the curriculum should be more dynamic and challenging.
“We all studied in Tamil Nadu board. If we bring substantive changes to the curriculum, we can make our presence felt in all the institutions,” she added.
“Preparing students for Neet exam is a good thing. We need to have more students clearing the exam from the state,” she noted.
She also called for more girl students to join in armed forces. “I want more girls in armed forces. Schools like Lady Sivaswami Ayyar Higher Secondary School should encourage them to become part of the Indian army. They should join in frontier breaking areas such as fighter pilots,” she urged.
School education minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, Industries Minister M.C. Sampath and alumni and former teachers of the school were present in the function.
The defence minister also gave away rolling shields to top ranking students of the school and a trophy to the gold medal winner at India school games in pole vault competition.
