State will file Special Leave Petition in Supreme Court over Madras HC’s RTE order, says Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi

School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi told reporters in Coimbatore on Saturday the State government will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court of India, in connection with the Madras High Court’s order on admissions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act).

“We chaired a review meeting regarding this recently. Once the SLP is filed, after that the admission portal will be opened soon,” he said.

The Minister was in Coimbatore to participate in a review meeting with school headmasters to assess learning outcomes based on the State-Level Achievement Survey (SLAS).

On fund allocations, he said, “the Central government’s share of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan has not been received. Under the RTE Act, the State has been paying advances on behalf of the Centre, expecting reimbursement later. However, for the past three years, over ₹600 crore has been withheld. It is unfortunate that politics is being played with children’s education.”

Speaking about the SLAS report, he said the survey focused on students’ understanding rather than rote learning. “It’s not about memorising answers, but about actual comprehension. In Coimbatore district, Thondamuthur block was among the low-performing areas. We have prepared individual report cards not just for districts but for each school. Over 9.8 lakh students were assessed, and based on the outcomes, an action plan has been prepared to address the gaps and improve performance,” he said.

Shortage of teachers

Regarding the shortage of computer science teachers in schools and the current appointment of trainers in labs, he said a survey would be undertaken to assess vacancies. “Trainers are being used as a temporary solution where posts are vacant. However, we recognise the need for full-time computer science teachers, especially since we are planning to introduce artificial intelligence and robotics in the curriculum. A permanent solution will be arrived at soon,” he added.