BJP former state leader Annamalai has sharply criticized the DMK government, alleging that it has pushed Tamil Nadu’s education sector into a very backward position. Referencing the UDISE+ report by the Ministry of Education, Annamalai highlighted an alarming increase in school dropout rates across the state compared to previous years.The dropout rate in primary schools has risen from 0.6% in 2020-21 to 2.7% in 2024-25, while in higher secondary schools, it has increased from 6.4% to 8.5%. He pointed out that opportunities like multilingual education available in private schools are denied to poor students in government schools. Additionally, caste-based conflicts are reported mostly in government schools, unlike private schools.
Annamalai also condemned poor infrastructure in government schools, including classes held in makeshift wooden huts and collapsing buildings constructed by DMK supporters. He accused the government of prioritizing publicity events over education, causing unnecessary holidays for government school students. Meanwhile, the number of students enrolling in private schools is rising sharply, with 526,000 joining private schools compared to 239,000 in government schools.
He questioned when the Chief Minister and the Education Minister will “wake up” and address the deteriorating state of Tamil Nadu’s school education under the DMK rule.