The problems faced due to the fee structure levied by the Justice Govindarajan Committee on private schools, and the need to safeguard minority rights dominated the inaugural session of the first State-level conference of the Confederation of Tamil Nadu Minority Schools.

The Confederation was also officially launched at the conference on Thursday, in which heads of the minority and linguistic schools from across the State participated.

Addressing the gathering, A. M. Chinnappa, Archbishop of Madras Mylapore, said “We must prove to the world that we are not business people, but have come with a mission of imparting quality education, particularly to the poor and the downtrodden. If we prove this, all will accept this federation.” He said it was the directive on the fee structure, which has brought all minority schools together and they should work together on several counts including safeguarding the rights of the minorities which have been trampled on.

Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali said education should not be looked as a business. He urged entrepreneurs to adopt existing schools and support them as well as start more educational institutions.

C.M.K.Reddy, Chairman, Linguistic Minority of Tamil Nadu, urged that the Confederation be united in conveying the views, and a strong action committee be formed. Chief Khasi Mufti Salahuddin Mohammed Ayub said an educational institution once declared a minority school or college continues to be so and minority certificate should not insisted upon every year.

Chief Guest Fr. Vincent Chinnadurai, Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Minority Commission, wished the Confederation all success.

Lawrence Pious Dorairaj, Fr. Antony Puthenangady, pastor M. Anbalagan and committee members of the confederation spoke. The status of minority schools in the State, the degree of prejudice and discrimination faced by them and the problems they have are among the issues to be looked into in 2010-11.

Around 2,929 students are being trained in Punjab via a special coaching programme being sponsored by the government to prepare them for the National Defence Academy examination, which will be conducted in April 2011.

The coaching classes for NDA aspirants have been organized by the Department of Employment Generation in collaboration with Director-General of School Education.

The Director General has directed all District Education Officers to identify schools and teachers in all districts who would be able to provide training to students planning to take the NDA examination next year.

Around 700 teachers have now been roped in by the government to provide coaching classes to the NDA aspirants across the state of Punjab. In Gurdaspur, 400 students have registered for the classes whereas in Patiala and Tarn Taran, 328 and 300 students have enrolled for the classes respectively.

Also, several ex-servicemen have been involved in the project as well and are assisting in running the classes.

Seeing the enthusiasm shown by the NDA aspirants for the classes, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has announced that the teachers who are coaching the students would be given an honorarium.