more-in Registering its strong opposition to the State government’s reported move to close down 1,350 schools citing poor student strength, the Tamil Nadu Primary School Teachers’ Federation (TNPTF) on Tuesday resolved to hold protest meetings in all district headquarters on June 6. The federation also plans to burn copies of the recently issued G.O. 101 pertaining to the administrative revamp at the field level, if the Government fails to withdraw it. After chairing a meeting of its State executive committee here, the federation general secretary S. Mayil termed the move to close down schools as “retrograde” and cautioned that it would lead to rural children dropping out. “In the event the government closes down the schools on the basis of the teacher-student ratio, small children will be forced to travel distances up to 5 km for their elementary education. They would rather drop out. The move is tantamount to denying the economically backward children the opportunity for availing themselves the benefits of free elementary education,” Mr. Mayil told mediapersons. The federation would conduct protests in front of all the 1,350 plus elementary schools said to have been identified for closure, he said, and demanded withdrawal of G.O. No. 56 on trimming teacher strength. The federation, during the meeting presided over by its president M. Manimekalai, also adopted a resolution condemning the repression of the State-level protests on May 8 by Jacto-Geo highlighting various demands, including restoration of the old pension scheme and rectification of pay anomalies. It took exception to the treatment of protesters like extremists. The protest will be intensified from June 11 through start of an indefinite fast. There would be simultaneous protests too, he said.

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