Wednesday, Mar 12, 2003
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2003 |
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Tamil Nadu
By K. Ramachandran
Trainers from the District Institute of Education and Training and teacher educators at Block Resource Centres, who have hands-on experience, are conducting the training programme for teachers handling classes I- VIII in 40,000 schools. Last year, the teacher-educators in 410 block/city resource centres (which are the project support structures) underwent a three-month "school attachment programme" to get hands-on experience; and later school-based training and a school adoption programme for "capacity building". These teacher-educators are now conducting the training for elementary school teachers. They will also train local village committees in implementing the EFA with the involvement of the villagers. For 2002-03, the Union Government approved a budget of Rs.184.22 crores for Tamil Nadu. Half the budgeted amount was released and almost all funds received have been spent in targeted areas, say project officials. They note that in keeping with the State's objectives, nearly 2,000 buildings with two or three classrooms each have been constructed with the involvement of local village communities. Had the Public Works Department or a similar agency constructed the building, each structure would have cost about Rs.6 lakhs. But, with the people's involvement and monitoring by village-level education committees, the cost has been brought down substantially. "With participation by the village leaders and the local headmaster at all levels, we could maintain the structural strength of the buildings," say the officials involved. The community was encouraged to contribute its funds, in addition to government grants based on local needs. Civil works are one of the most remarkable interventions to construct buildings for classes and block resource centres, to provide water and toilet facilities. Besides, a maintenance grant of Rs.5,000 was given to 20,540 schools and more than 1.74 lakh teachers were given Rs.500 each for producing innovative teaching-learning material.
Pat from Centre
Project officials note that Tamil Nadu's implementation of the EFA, especially towards increasing the access of local villages to schools, recruiting and training teachers, upgrading school infrastructure, and more importantly, involving the local communities has secured the appreciation of the Union Government. Now, the project officials are working to introduce computer education for children in Class VI, VII and VIII, by tying up with reputed training companies. The EFA aims at 100 per cent enrolment in class I, ensuring that all of them complete class V in the next five years and class VIII by 2010, eliminating dropout. At present, the State has a gross access ratio (access of a primary school within a km of each habitation with a population of 300) of 95, but only 85 per cent of the eligible children actually get enrolled in class I. Among them, only 59 per cent complete five classes in five years. While 16 per cent dropout before that, 25 per cent take more than six years to complete five years of primary schooling.
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