Tamil Nadu bishops meet CM Stalin, seek end to discriminatory education policies impacting Christian schools, demand equal access to government benefits.
Newsroom (14/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) Catholic bishops in Tamil Nadu have called on the state government to address discriminatory education policies that they say unfairly burden Christian-run schools, threatening their ability to serve some of the state’s poorest communities. A delegation from the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC), led by Archbishop George Anthonysamy of Madras-Mylapore, met Chief Minister M. K. Stalin in Chennai on November 13 to present their concerns.
The bishops submitted a memorandum urging the relaxation of restrictive provisions in the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Regulation Act, 2018, particularly new rules introduced in 2023. These regulations impose significant hurdles on minority-run institutions, including Christian schools, which form a vital part of the state’s education system.
Father Antonysamy Solomon, secretary of the TNBC’s education commission and a member of the delegation, told UCA News on November 14 that the new rules require minority institutions to seek prior government approval to establish new schools, create an endowment fund, and reserve two months’ worth of staff salaries. Additionally, restrictions on internal teacher transfers and mandatory staff-to-student ratios further complicate operations.
“These regulations make it increasingly difficult for minority-run schools to function with the autonomy they once had,” Solomon said. “If the government does not address these discriminatory provisions, many of our institutions will struggle to continue serving the poorest communities.”
The bishops also highlighted disparities in the distribution of government benefits, such as free textbooks, laptops, and other resources. While students in government-run schools receive these items as standard, only a small fraction of students in minority-run schools benefit. Similarly, reserved quotas in higher education are available for students from government schools, but no such affirmative action exists for economically disadvantaged students attending Church-run schools.
“Most of our schools are located in remote villages, where government schools are often scarce,” the bishops told Stalin. “Our institutions serve the poorest areas, yet our students are denied equal access to opportunities.”
Tamil Nadu’s Christian community, which constitutes 6 percent of the state’s 76 million people, operates approximately 6,000 of the 8,403 government-aided schools in the state, including 2,300 Catholic-run institutions. These schools adhere to state regulations on curriculum, examinations, fee structures, and staff recruitment, yet face unequal treatment in policy implementation.
Bishop Lourdu Anandam of Sivagangai diocese, who joined the delegation, described the meeting with Stalin as “very cordial.” He noted that the chief minister listened attentively and assured the bishops that their concerns would be addressed.
The bishops’ appeal comes at a critical time for Tamil Nadu’s education sector, where minority institutions have long played a pivotal role in providing quality education to underserved communities. With more than 87 percent of the state’s population identifying as Hindu, Christian-run schools have been instrumental in bridging educational gaps, particularly in rural areas.
The TNBC’s memorandum underscores the need for equitable policies to ensure that minority-run schools can continue their mission without undue regulatory burdens. As Solomon emphasized, “Equal treatment is not just a matter of fairness—it’s essential for the survival of these institutions and the communities they serve.”
As the state government reviews the bishops’ demands, the outcome of this dialogue could set a precedent for how minority educational institutions are treated across India, where similar challenges have sparked debates over religious and educational freedoms.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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