Tamil Nadu has the least number of out-of-school children in the country with the highest enrolment rate in schools, Minister for School Education, Thangam Thennarasu, said.
Speaking at the Children's Day function organised by the Department of School Education here on Sunday, he said the Government was aware that the children were the pillars of future of the country and was working for their development to make a strong society.
Mr. Thennarasu pointed out that the State Government was promoting school education through lot of initiatives like free education, bus passes, textbooks, notebooks, bicycles and noon meals. Besides, it was providing five eggs or bananas a week in schools.
The Minister said that the annual Children's Day function that was being traditionally held in Chennai was moved to Aruppukottai for the first time. The cultural programme presented by the students of the district proved that they were second to none in the State. The students made the district proud by securing the top place in overall pass percentage in the 10{+t}{+h} and 12{+t}{+h} public examinations in the State for the last 25 years.
A total of Rs.130 crore had been spent for building up school infrastructure in the district, he added.
Action against schools
Later, talking to reporters, Mr. Thennarasu said that the State Government had clarified its stand on the private schools fee structure in the Assembly. He said that if there was any problem in any of the schools, action would be taken against them if it was brought to his notice.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister for Backward Classes, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, said that school education had undergone a revolutionary change under the leadership of Mr. Thennarasu. The quality of education imparted in Government schools was now better than that in elite private schools.
