Number of TN students entering institutions like IITs, IIMs very low

CHENNAI: The number of students from Tamil Nadu entering institutions like IITs, IIMs or IISc is very low as is the number of TN candidates in science and technology, R&D, IAS or IFS, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. “Earlier, three of 10 candidates from TN used to clear all-India competitive exams,” she said.


At the 150th celebrations of Lady Sivaswami Ayyar Girls’ Higher Secondary School,

Mylapore

, on Friday, she said the school-level curriculum should be more challenging. “Everyone talks about CBSE but the TN state board should be no less. To increase encouragement and presence of Tamil candidates across fields, it has to start at the school level where substantive changes have to be brought into the curriculum.”

She also said she wanted to see more girls in the armed forces. “I hope more of your students will join the army, navy or the air force and take up frontier- breaking roles,” she told the authorities.

School education minister K A Sengottaiyan said the revamped syllabus, launched last year, would help crack any competitive exam and the new Class XII syllabus would include 12 skill-based courses.

Sitharaman said, “It is not easy to sustain an institution for a long period and while finances may be one aspect, it is the character that is bringing greatness to schools like these. The 150 years is incidental.”

Actor Lakshmi, vocalist Vani Jairam and Adyar Cancer Institute chairperson Dr V Shanta, alumni of the school, were presented mementoes.