Anna University withdraws decision to suspend Tamil BE in mechanical, civil engineering

NEW DELHI: Anna University’s vice chancellor revoked the decision on the ‘temporary suspension’ of Tamil medium undergraduate engineering courses across its 11 affiliated colleges. He announced the decision during a press conference held at Chennai on May 25.

According to reports, R Velraj, vice-chancellor of Anna University informed journalists that the decision was withdrawn on the advice of Tamil Nadu’s higher education minister K Ponmudy. “The Tamil medium BE courses in civil and mechanical will continue as usual this year," said Velraj, after speaking with the minister, during the conference on Thursday.

“We had started civil and mechanical courses in Tamil. It is being perceived as if the university is neglecting mother tongue. That is not true. Candidates are showing interest in other subjects. We wanted to introduce courses such as Computer Science and Engineering that students prefer now. We have translated study material for 50 subjects last year and another 500 subjects are currently under translation,” Velraj told The Hindu .

Computer science and engineering in Tamil

The VC said: “We have now decided to bring courses in Tamil that are in demand and consider withdrawing the civil and mechanical engineering programmes later. Two years ago the All India Council of Technical Education mandated that we run courses in Tamil. We are translating material in Tamil currently.”

Careers360 had reported on the suspension of Tamil medium engineering courses across Anna University’s 11 colleges on Thursday. While the varsity had also suspended civil and mechanical engineering courses in English medium across four colleges of engineering, there is no decision on English medium courses as of now.

“After receiving backlash from several ministers the varsity took the decision,” said another professor on condition of anonymity. K Annamalai, state president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also , wrote on social media that "decision to call off Tamil medium engineering courses in the constituent colleges of Anna University is in sharp contrast to their popular diversion propaganda".

11 constituent colleges of Anna University are suspending admissions of Engineering courses in Tamil medium as the language of instruction.

Our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl has emphasised education in one’s mother tongue thru the new education policy. Our Hon HM Thiru…

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 25, 2023

“The state government of Tamil Nadu must put extra effort into popularising these programmes instead of discarding them and has to bring in measures to promote Tamil medium education in Higher education. While asked why these courses were discontinued, TN Higher education minister Thiru Ponmudi avl says these courses would continue to function if students seek admission,” Annamalai added.

However, I Arul Aram, president, Anna University Teachers’ Association (AUTA) argued that although the university has put effort into translating the engineering books in Tamil, “they are not up-to the mark".

“The books must be translated by people who have both versatile knowledge of Tamil language and engineering, without which the books won't be translated properly,” Aram told Careers360.