Continuing her surprise visits to government schools, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Wednesday inspected the Navalar Nedunchezhian Government Higher Secondary School at Lawspet.
During her interaction with children of class 12, she learnt that the batch would receive career counselling only in October. Ms. Bedi had suggested advancing the counselling for the current batch.
Referring to the feedback in the first part of the visit, where she observed that nearly 90% of the children reported that their father had alcohol regularly, the Lt. Governor said: “I am worried for you. Nine out of 10 of you have reported that your father drinks. This is a cause for poverty and domestic disharmony.”
She administered an alcohol abstinence pledge to the children and urged them to motivate their parents to opt for de-addiction centre in Jipmer.
Finding the standard of English below par, Ms. Bedi asked students to work hard and improve their language skills to sharpen their competitive edge in national examinations.
She wanted them to engage in self-learning and peer learning, she asked them regularly read newspapers and books.
Ms. Bedi later convened a meeting with Director of School Education Dr. L. Kumar, and Joint Director Krishnaraj and school staff and suggested that teachers counsel parents of “at-risk” children.She said they should even visit the homes of absentee-students to prevent them from dropping out of the school.
Skill development
She reiterated the need to provide skills development classes in partnership with the Labour Department for these children so that they could start earning as soon as they graduated from school.
Ms. Bedi asked the school principal to involve teachers and students in the “shramadaan” activities to keep the premises neat and also the surroundings hygienic.
