In a press release here, it described as ``unwelcome'', the government's reported decision to make Tamil the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Arts subjects. The move, ``wholly goes against the opinion and interests of parents'', it said.

The association said at present, about 20,000 English-medium nursery schools were being run in the State ``with public support''. About two lakh graduates and post-graduates, both trained and untrained, worked as teachers in these schools. Only 2,100 of the 20,000 private nursery schools had got the approval of the Government, which has directed other schools to secure approval before this academic year-end.

These institutions were providing `quality education' in theEnglish medium without financial aid from the Government, it said, and urged the Government to reconsider the decision.

It also appealed the Government to give more time to unrecognised schools to get approval.