India is the only country where children’s mother tongue is given least importance in schools, said actor Nasser on Monday. “I have seen countries like Japan , China , Germany where learning takes place only through mother tongue”, he added. He was speaking at the 16th Annual Day celebrations of Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School , Kolathur In the year 2008. Actor Nalini also took part in the event.

“I am not against English. But we can’t tolerate children using words like ‘mummy’ and ‘uncle’ with their dear ones. I appreciate this school for attaching equal significance to English and Tamil”, Nasser said.

Actor Nalini called upon the teachers to make children with a human face. “Moral values are as important as marks’, she emphasized. Pointing to the ‘Plan:Work:Succeed’ slogan in the school logo, Nalini said, “Nothing succeeds like success”. A massive gathering of over 7,000 turned out at the 74,000 sq.ft playgrounds of the school. Students performed ‘Animals’ reception’, “Man from the Mars’, ‘Fun on Fashion Show’, Torsos’ Dance’, ‘Othello drama’ and other culturals on the occasion. General proficiency prizes were distributed to the students by both the chief guests.

B. Purushothaman, Principal, welcomed the gathering. School Pupil Leader M. Ishwarya proposed a vote of thanks