In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Industries and Commerce Minister S. Keerthana’s interaction with a government school student, the Tamil Nadu government has issued a circular barring political party functionaries and private individuals from entering government school classrooms, declaring that educational institutions are meant solely for learning and not for political activities, as reported in India Today.
The circular, issued by School Education Minister Raj Mohan, states that only elected representatives attending official government programmes will be permitted to enter government schools. Even then, the government has stressed that classrooms are educational spaces and must not be used for political messaging, personality cults, or activities glorifying political leaders.
“Schools are places for learning, not for heaping praises on anyone,” the circular states.
The order also prohibits the celebration of birthdays of political leaders inside classrooms and school premises. It further directs that all programmes conducted in government schools must adhere to the principles of political neutrality and educational relevance. The government has said that detailed guidelines governing events in government schools will be issued shortly.
Circular Follows Keerthana Controversy
The government’s move comes days after Industries and Commerce Minister S. Keerthana found herself at the centre of a political storm over her inspection of a government girls’ high school near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district.
During the visit, Keerthana entered a classroom and interacted with students. She asked one student in English, “What does your father do?” When the girl hesitated to respond, the minister remarked to the teacher that the student was unable to answer even a basic question in English. She then asked the teacher to question the student and went on to comment that the English proficiency of students in government schools was poor, adding that the standards among “last-benchers” were even lower.
A video of the interaction quickly went viral on social media, triggering widespread criticism from opposition parties, child rights activists, and education experts, who accused the minister of publicly humiliating a schoolgirl.
Opposition, BJP And Child Rights Activists Criticise Minister
Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned Keerthana’s conduct, calling it “shocking, disgusting and grossly insensitive.” He mocked her as a “Reels Minister,” alleging that she had used an underprivileged government school student as a prop for publicity while damaging the child’s confidence.
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran also criticised the episode, describing it as an “excess” committed under the guise of an official inspection. He urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to rein in his ministers.
Child rights activists and education experts argued that publicly highlighting a student’s academic or linguistic shortcomings, particularly those of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, could inflict lasting psychological harm and undermine their confidence.
Keerthana Defends Her Actions
Responding to the criticism, Keerthana rejected allegations that she intended to humiliate the student.
She said she herself had studied in a Tamil-medium government school and struggled with English when she entered the corporate sector. According to the minister, her objective was to highlight the learning gaps that continue to exist in government schools rather than ridicule students.
Keerthana also denied recording or circulating the viral video, claiming that members of the media had filmed and publicised the interaction. She further questioned her critics, asking how many of them chose to send their own children to government schools.
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Chief Minister’s Office Steps In
As the controversy intensified, the Chief Minister’s Office reportedly intervened to contain the political fallout.
Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar announced that the Chief Minister’s Office had instructed ministers and MLAs to refrain from conducting unnecessary inspections of government institutions in a manner that could inconvenience students or create public spectacles.
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