Tamil Nadu Industries Minister S. Keerthana has defended herself against criticism for her actions during a school inspection near Sivakasi. She clarified that the controversy surrounding her interaction with a student had been misrepresented. The Minister faced backlash from various political figures and social media users after a video of the incident went viral.
The controversy arose from Keerthana’s visit to a government girls’ higher secondary school in Virudhunagar district. During the inspection, she asked a teacher to converse with a student in English, leading to criticism about her remarks on students’ English-speaking abilities. The video sparked accusations that she had embarrassed the student, drawing widespread criticism.
In response, Keerthana explained that the incident was portrayed inaccurately and emphasized that she never intended to demean any student. Having herself studied in a government school in Tamil medium, she empathized with the challenges faced by students from similar backgrounds. Keerthana highlighted that the criticism on her English proficiency indirectly ridiculed Tamil-medium students without access to private schools or costly educational opportunities.
Reflecting on her educational journey, Keerthana shared her experience of studying core subjects in Tamil and later grappling with English in the corporate sector. She acknowledged the importance of continuous learning and expressed her ongoing efforts to enhance her language skills. The Minister stressed that learning should be embraced without shame and that her journey resonated with the aspirations and struggles of many government school students in Tamil Nadu.
Keerthana reiterated that the controversy had been distorted and urged the public not to judge government school students based on selective video clips or political narratives.
