Tamil Nadu Govt Schools Accused of Class 11 Admission Bias, CPI Demands Action

Chennai: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has raised serious concerns over alleged discriminatory admission practices in Tamil Nadu's government higher secondary schools, where Class 11 seats are reportedly being denied to students with average Class 10 marks.

CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan, in a sharp critique, highlighted growing complaints from across the state about schools cherry-picking only high-performing students while rejecting others. He termed this trend "a betrayal of Tamil Nadu's legacy of social justice and equitable education."

Mutharasan pointed out the irony of such exclusionary practices when the state has pioneered inclusive schemes like the free breakfast program and Pudhumai Penn (for girls' education), which have notably improved retention and higher education enrollment.

"Last year, 241 government schools achieved 100% pass rates in Class 10 exams—proof of our teachers' hard work and systemic reforms. But this progress loses meaning if we shut doors on students needing support," he asserted.

The CPI leader cautioned against government schools emulating private institutions, which often admit only top scorers to inflate pass percentages and profits. "Government schools must measure success by how much a child learns, not just by marks. Denying education based on scores undermines social justice," he stressed.

The party has demanded that the School Education Department issue strict guidelines to ensure no student is barred from Class 11 admissions due to academic performance alone. "Education is a right, not a privilege reserved for high achievers," Mutharasan added, urging swift corrective measures.