ALL INDIA CONFERENCE FOR ABOLISHING COMMERCIALISATION OF EDUCATION AND BUILDING A COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM

 

on 30th June-1st July 2012 at Chennai, India

 

Organised by

State Platform for Common School System (SPCSS), Tamil Nadu

in association with

All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE)

Venue: Valluvarkottam, Nungambakkam, Chennai

PROGRAMMEE SCHEDULE

30th June 2012 (Saturday) 9.00 am -10.30 am

Gopal Krishna Gokhale & Gijubhai Badheka Opening Ceremony –

Students Choir – Students from Various Streams of Schools in Chennai, trained in the tradition of Late M.B. Srinivasan by Madras Youth Choir.

Group Song on Conference Theme (in Hindi) – Basti Jhan Samooh and Shiksha Adhikar Manch, Bhopal.

Welcome Address – Thru I.P. Kanakasundaram, President, State Platform for Common School System (SPCSS), Tamilnadu.

Introducing the Conference – Dr. Meher Engineer, Chairperson, All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE) & Former Director, Bose Institute, Kolkata.

Declaring Conference Open – Dr. S. S. Rajagopalan, Former State President, Headmasters’ Association, Tamilnadu.

Felicitations

Unveiling Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s portrait – Justice A. P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Madras & Delhi High Courts.

Unveiling Gijubhai Badheka’s portrait – Dr. M. N. Buch, IAS (Decorated with Padmabhushan) & Chairperson, IIIT, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Conference Souvenir Release by Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, Former Vice Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli & Former Chairperson, Tamilnadu State Women’s Commission – Received by Thiru K. N. Thangarasu, President , Thai Thamizh Kalvi Pani (Mother Tamil Educational Service).

Release of ‘Tamilnadu Education – A Historical Perception’ (Author: Dr. P. Rathinasabapathy) by Dr. S. V. Chitti Babu, Former Vice Chancellor, Madras University – Received by Thiru S. Arumainathan, President, Tamilnadu Federation of Students-Parents Welfare Associations.

Release of ‘Pothu Aasiriyar’ or ‘Public Teacher’ (Author: Thiru I. P. Kanakasundaram) by Dr. S. Muthukumaran, Former Vice Chancellor, Bharathidasan University & Chairperson, Samacheerkalvi Committee – Received by Thiru. J. Rajmohan, Secretary, Student Federation of India, Tamilnadu.

Release of ‘Naan Maranathukkupin’ or ‘After Death’ (Author: Thiru A.M.M.S Xavier a.k.a. ‘Rani Xavier’, Retired Tamilnadu State Government official and Cultural & Social Activist fighting within the R. C. Church against commercialisation of education – the book talks about the scientific approach to organ and body donations) by Dr. K.P. Aravanan, Former Vice Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – Received by Thiru Udhayan, State Secretariat Member, Tamilnadu Science Forum

Welcoming Torches of Historical Icons of Struggle for People’s Right to Democratic, Secular, Egalitarian and Enlightened Education System brought from Various Districts and States – To be received collectively on behalf of Conference Steering Committee by Pulavar Ki.Tha Pachaiappan, Freedom Fighter & Tamil Scholar; Thiru N. M. Sundaram, Former President, All India Insurance Employees Association, Chennai; Kavingar Thanikaiselvan, Renowned Tamil Litterateur; Ms. G. Thilakavathi, IPS, Former DGP & Feminist-cum-Writer, Chennai; and Prof. Roop Rekha Verma, Former Professor of Philosophy and Vice Chancellor (Acting), Lucknow University; Leading advocate of secularism and gender equality , Dr. C. S. Rex Sargunam, Former Medical Superintendent, Govt. Children Hospital & Director, Institute of Child Health, Egmore, Chennai.

Tea – 10:30 AM-11:00 AM

Mahatma Jotirao Phule Inaugural Session – 11:00 AM-01:30 PM

‘Abolishing Commercialisation of Education and Building a Common School System – A Historical, Socio-economic and Political Perspective’

Chairperson – Prof. Roop Rekha Verma, Former Professor of Philosophy and Vice Chancellor (Acting), Lucknow University; Leading advocate of secularism and gender equality.

Unveiling Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s portrait – Jointly by Ms. Manimala, Director, Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti, New Delhi; and Dr. B. D. Sharma, Bharat Jan Andolan; Former Collector, Bastar Distt., then in Madhya Pradesh; Last Commissioner for SCs and STs, Government of India & Vice Chancellor, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya.

Inaugural Address by Chief Guest – Prof. K.N. Panikkar, Chairperson, Kerala Council for Historical Research & General President, Indian History Congress; Former Vice-Chancellor, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kerala; Internationally acclaimed historian of cultural and intellectual history of colonial India.

Struggle for Right to Education through Common School System: A Historical Vision – Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Member, Presidium, AIFRTE; Shiksha Aadhikar Manch, Bhopal; Former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Delhi.

Common School System and the Constitutional Vision – Prof. G. Haragopal, Centre for Human Rights, Central University of Hyderabad & A.P. Save Education Committee; Member, Presidium, AIFRTE.

Abolishing Commercialisation of Education & Building State-funded Education System from ‘KG to PG’ – Prof. Madhu Prasad, Former Head, Deptt. of Philosophy, Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi & Member, Presidium, AIFRTE; Delhi Shiksha Adhikar Manch.

Chairperson’s Remarks

Lunch – 01:30 PM-02:00 PM

Second Session – 02:00 PM-05:00 PM

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Session on ‘Constitutional & Judicial Imperatives for Educational Policies and Laws’

Chairperson – Justice A.K. Ganguly, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, Chairperson, State Human Rights Commission, West Bengal.

Unveiling Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s portrait & Presenting ‘Foreword’ for the Session – Thiru N.G.R. Prasad, Senior Counsel, Madras High Court & Supreme Court of India.

Panel:

Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Madras & Delhi High Courts.

Justice K. Chandru, Sitting Judge, Madras High Court.

Ms. R. Vaigai, Senior Counsel, Madras High Court & Supreme Court of India.

Discussant: Dr. Niranjanaradhya V.P., Centre for Child & the Law, National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
Chairperson’s Remarks

HIGH TEA 5.00 PM – 5.30 PM

Third Session- 05:30 PM-08:45 PM Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Session on ‘International Experience in Building a State-funded Common School System & Engaging with Neo-liberal Assault on Education’

Chairperson – Prof. J.B.G. Tilak, Head, Department of Educational Finance, National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi & President, Comparative Education Society of India.

Unveiling Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh’s portrait – Jointly by delegates respectively from Cuba, Venezuela and Germany.

Panel:

Thiru Richard Espinoza-Lobo, First Secretary & Political Advisor, Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in India.

Dr. Carsten Krinn, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Germany.

Thiru Eduardo E. Iglesias Quintana, Minister Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in India.
Prof. Ravi Kumar, Prof. of Sociology, South Asian University, New Delhi.

Dr. Nisha Thapliyal, Lecturer, University of New Castle, Australia (Educational Research in Brazil).

Chairperson’s Remarks

1st July, 2012 (Sunday) Fourth Session – 09:00 AM-11:00 AM

Savitribai Phule Session on ‘Envisioning State-funded Common School System in India’

Chairpersons – Thiru Prabhakar Arade, President, All India Federation of Elementary Teachers Organisations & Member, Presidium, AIFRTE; Dr. S.S. Rajagopalan, Former President, Headmasters’ Association, Tamilnadu; and Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Member, Presidium, AIFRTE.

Unveiling Savitribai Phule’s portrait – Jointly by Thiru Prabhakar Arade, President, All India Federation of Elementary Teachers Organisations & Member, Presidium, AIFRTE and Prof. S. Mohana, Tamilnadu Science Forum & Member, Conference Steering Committee.

Panel: Dr. Dilip Chavan, Department of English, SRTM University, Nanded, Maharashtra; Dr. Vikas Gupta, Department of History, University of Delhi & Member, National Executive, AIFRTE; Dr. K. Laxminarayana, Department of Economics, Central University of Hyderabad & Member, Secretariat, A.P. Save Education Committee; Prof. S. Mohana, Tamilnadu Science Forum & Member, Conference Steering Committee; Dr. V. N. Sharma, Jharkhand Vigyan Manch, Ranchi & Member, National Executive, AIFRTE; and Thiru Thokchom Surjit Singh, SYNROPLANG, Shillong, Meghalaya & Member, National Executive, AIFRTE, Thiru. R. Stalin, Research Scholar, Criminology Department , University of Madras & Vice President , SFI-TN.

Chairpersons’ Remarks

11:00 AM-11:30 AM – Blood, Eye & Body Donations by 86 people symbolizing our struggle for repeal of 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 and its replacement by a fresh Constitutional Amendment in consonance with the Preamble to the Constitution and other principles enshrined therein.

Fifth Session – 11:30 AM-01:00 PM

Mahatma Gandhi Session on ‘Chennai Declaration: Presentation, Recommendation and Endorsement’

Chairpersons: Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, Former Vice Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli; Former Chairperson, Tamilnadu State Women’s Commission; and Member, Board of Advisers, AIFRTE; Prof. G. Haragopal, Centre for Human Rights, Central University of Hyderabad; A.P. Save Education Committee; and Member, Presidium, AIFRTE.

Unveiling Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait – Jointly by Dr. Anita Ghai, Jesus & Mary College, University of Delhi and Prof. Jagmohan Singh, Former Professor of Computer Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab.

Presented by Ms. Geeta Athreya, Member, National Executive, AIFRTE (in English); Dr. Padmavathy Vivekanandan, Professor of Tamil, Meenakshi College for Women, Chennai; Member, Core Committee, SPCSS, Tamilnadu; and Member, Conference Steering Committee (in Tamil); Ms. Guddi, Yusuf Meherally Centre, Mumbai & Member, National Executive, AIFRTE (in Hindi).

Elaboration & Recommendation: Dr. M.N. Buch, IAS (Decorated with Padmabhushan) & Chairperson, IIIT, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh; Dr. P. Chandra, Former Director, Social Pediatrics, Government Stanley Hospital, Chennai; Dr. Anita Ghai, Jesus & Mary College, University of Delhi; Ms. Manimala, Director, Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti, New Delhi Prof. Jagmohan Singh, Former Professor of Computer Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab; Dr. Anand Teltumbde, School of Management, IIT, Kharagpur, West Bengal & Writer-cum-Activist.

Endorsement of Chennai Declaration and Oath Taking by Delegates.

Chairpersons’ Remarks

Lunch – 01:00 PM-01:30 PM

Sixth Session – 01:30 PM-04:00 PM

Periyar & Singaravelar Session on ‘Building a Mass Movement on Education – Goals, Strategy & Programmes’

Chairpersons – Prof. Chakradhar Rao, Professor of Economics, Osmania University; President, A.P. Save Education Committee & Member, Board of Advisers, AIFRTE and Thru Sunil (Samajwadi Jan Parishad), Zila Shiksha Adhikar Manch, Hoshangabad Distt., M.P. & Member, Presidium, AIFRTE.

Unveiling Periyar’s portrait – Dr. Anand Teltumbde, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal.

Unveiling Singaravelar’s portrait – Thiru Ashutosh Kumar Rakesh, Bihar Araajpatrit Prarambhik Shikshak Sangh & Member, National Executive, AIFRTE.

Theme Paper Presentation – Thiru Ramesh Patnaik, Organising Secetary, AIFRTE & Secretary, A.P. Save Education Committee.

Discussant: Thiru Lingaraj, President, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Bhubaneswar & Member, National Executive, AIFRTE.

Representatives of AIFRTE’s Member-Organisations & Associated Organisations, including various organizations of students & teachers, Right to Education Groups, parents associations, school committees and others.

Chairpersons’ Remarks

Narayan Guru Valedictory Session – 04:00 PM-05:30 PM

Chairperson – Dr. B. D. Sharma, Bharat Jan Andolan; Former Collector, Bastar Distt., then in Madhya Pradesh; Last Commissioner for SCs and STs, Government of India & Vice Chancellor, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya.

Unveiling Narayan Guru’s portrait – Justice A. K. Ganguly.

Valedictory Address – Justice A.K. Ganguly, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India & Chairperson, State Human Rights Commission, West Bengal.

Chairperson’s Remarks.

Vote of Thanks – Thiru Kavingar Sevviyan ,Treasurer, State Platform for Common School System, Tamilnadu.

Rally Starts At 6pm From Opp. to Valluvarkottam

Public Meeting 7pm

Venue : E.M.S. Namboodripad Arangam (Kodambakkam Rly.Station) Cultural Programme & speeches .

Speakers : Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Sigaram S. Senthilnathan ,”Ayeesha “ Natarajan, K.S.Kanakaraj, President, SFI-TN, I.P.Kanakasundaram,P.B.Prince GajendraBabu

 

 

பதிவாசிரியரைப் பற்றி