Dravidianist supporter and Kollywood actor Karthi, whose children are reportedly enrolled in elite international schools, recently praised Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, portraying government schools as flourishing under his leadership. However, his remarks seem more like an act of political appeasement toward the DMK’s first family than an honest assessment. On the ground, the reality in government schools across Tamil Nadu paints a starkly different picture.
Following disturbing reports of teenage drug addiction and pregnancies in government schools, along with incidents of lizards found in meals prepared in toilets-turned-kitchens, yet another case has emerged that further undermines the praise lavished on School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.
TN Govt Teacher Allegedly Sexually Assaults 21 Girl Students, Arrested
In a shocking incident that rings warning bells on the state of safety in Tamil Nadu’s government schools, a 51-year-old male teacher at a government higher secondary school near Ooty was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting at least 21 girl students. The arrest comes just months after Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi promised stern action in a similar case, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the measures announced and the real condition of schools run under the so-called ‘Dravidian Model’.
The accused, a science teacher with 23 years of experience, had joined the school only a few months ago. The incident came to light during a police-conducted student awareness programme on personal safety, when several students from Classes 7, 8, and 10 reportedly came forward alleging repeated inappropriate behavior by the teacher during lessons on ‘good touch and bad touch’. The girls later submitted written complaints through the school’s complaint box.
Following a preliminary probe by Childline, the All-Women Police Station in Ooty Rural arrested the teacher under relevant sections of the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has since been remanded in Ooty sub-jail. Police said the teacher resides in Hope Park near Kotagiri.
The case has also exposed serious administrative lapses. Reports suggest that some students had informed the headmistress about the misconduct as early as June 25, but she allegedly failed to alert the authorities and instead chose to warn the teacher privately. The accused went on leave for three days following the warning, before returning to work.
This incident is the second major case this year involving sexual assault by teachers in Tamil Nadu’s government schools. In February, three teachers at a middle school in Krishnagiri were arrested for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old girl. At the time, Minister Anbil Mahesh had warned that the government would go beyond legal action and cancel the degree certificates of teachers found guilty of sexual misconduct.
Responding to a query from the mediapersons on the alleged sexual assault by three teachers at a government middle school in #Krishnagiri district on a 13-year-old student, the minister said "it was unfortunate."
"From now onwards, we will not stop merely with legal action. The… pic.twitter.com/3XMmzFkPiW
— TNIE Tamil Nadu (@xpresstn) February 8, 2025
However, with another high-profile case surfacing just months later, the effectiveness of such deterrents remains in question.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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