'டிஜிட்டல் உள்கட்டமைப்பு வசதிகள்' முழுமையாக இல்லாத தமிழகத்தில் #OnlineClasses மாணவர்களிடயே பாகுபாட்டை உண்டாக்கி எதிர்காலத்தைப் பாழடித்துவிடும்....

DMK president M.K. Stalin cautioned the AIADMK administration against permitting schools and private educational institutions to conduct mandatory online classes during the coronavirus lockdown. Stalin stated that Tamil Nadu lacks uniform digital infrastructure, reliable high-speed internet connectivity, and personal computing devices in rural households and economically disadvantaged settlements. Implementing virtual schooling without addressing systemic structural disparities will widen educational inequality, penalize impoverished children, and jeopardize the academic future of underprivileged students across the state.

Stalin highlighted the adverse psychological and physical health consequences facing young children subjected to prolonged screen exposure in unsupervised home environments. He noted that expecting impoverished parents to purchase expensive smartphones, laptops, and recurring data subscriptions amid severe economic distress is profoundly unjust. Virtual instruction cannot serve as an authentic substitute for classroom learning, pedagogical mentoring, and collaborative peer interaction within structured school institutions.

Stalin urged Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to recognize ground realities, halt premature online teaching permissions, and formulate comprehensive educational safeguards. He emphasized that the state government must protect student well-being, eliminate technological discrimination, and guarantee equitable access to quality education for every child before introducing digital formats.