Thangam Thennarasu is a Minister with a difference. He is dedicated, brutally frank and down to earth. Mincing words is alien to him. Let me hasten to add, I have no personal axe to grind.

He is looking after School Education. At a meeting held in Chennai of the Chief Educational Officers and District Educational Officers, he felt sad the School toppers every year are from aided Schools or Private School and never from the Government Schools. His concern is understandable.

The reasons are not far to seek. Firstly, the quality of the teaching staff is inadequate. There should be a continuous attempt to upgrade their standard. In fact, the only advantage of being a teacher is that one is able to keep himself abreast of the developments in the chosen field. Secondly, efforts should be made to develop curiosity among students. Mere text book knowledge will make them dull.

Thirdly, the students of the Government schools should be exposed to modern technology even at the primary level. The pity is that some of the rural students are not able to have a chance of seeing a PC, let alone operating one, even at the Secondary level. Fourthly, they should be encouraged to compete with students of other schools in quiz, elocution, poetry, drama and other competitions. They should know at least about what other students know.

The Minister has taken a vow. He would see to it that students from Government Schools secure top State ranks in Xth Standard and Plus Two exams in this academic year. We wish him well.

H Ramakrishnan