Heads of schools have been warned that any failure to act against teachers displaying caste affinity or indulging in discriminatory practices could harm the institution’s credibility.
Published Sep 10, 2025 | 6:38 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 10, 2025 | 6:38 PM
schools must prohibit caste identifiers such as coloured wristbands, rings, or forehead marks and remove caste names from institutions.
Synopsis: In a circular issued last week, the Tamil Nadu government has instructed a slew of measures to end caste-based animosities in state-run and aided schools.
The Tamil Nadu government has directed Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to take firm action against teachers who promote caste-based animosity among students.
The instructions follow the recommendations of a panel headed by former Madras High Court judge Justice K. Chandru, constituted after the 2023 Nanguneri incident in which two Scheduled Caste students were assaulted by intermediate-caste classmates.
On 9 August 2023, a gang of six juveniles, all aged below 16, attacked a Dalit boy at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district. The gang also hacked the boy’s 14-year-old sister, who went to her brother’s rescue.
According to the panel’s suggestions, schools must prohibit caste identifiers such as coloured wristbands, rings, or forehead marks and remove caste names from institutions.
The School Education Department has also instructed schools to keep student caste identities confidential, particularly in matters related to scholarships.
Any clarifications on such issues should be addressed only through one-on-one meetings with principals.
Heads of schools have been warned that any failure to act against teachers displaying caste affinity or indulging in discriminatory practices could harm the institution’s credibility.
To strengthen accountability, grievance boxes in schools must be opened weekly, with complaints reviewed by the Student Safeguard Advisory Committee. Action-taken reports are to be forwarded to the CEOs.
The circular, issued last week, further reiterated the total ban on mobile phones in schools, directing that confiscated devices be returned only to parents.
These measures are in line with the recommendations of the Tamil Nadu Fifth Police Commission, which had urged vigilance against caste discrimination in government and government-aided schools and advised preventing domination of such institutions by teachers from a single community.
