Banners and hoardings dot the roadsides in many villages in the district these days impressing upon parents to admit their wards in panchayat union schools. They proclaim the advantages and modern facilities available at these institutions on a par with the private schools.
Mushroom growth of private schools in rural and semi-urban sectors has resulted in a stiff competition among these private institutions and panchayat schools. “Obviously, we have to pull our socks well ahead of June to attract the parents towards our school,” says N. Valayapathy, headmistress of the Panchayat union middle school in Ariyur, an interior village near Lalgudi.
Panchayat schools are second to none in terms of quality education, she asserts. To drive home this point, the school has set up flex banners at important places such as temple area, junction road and other vantage centres. Ariyur is one of the three villages where the on-line coaching has been introduced under the ‘Eureka with e-Vidyaloka’ scheme in the district during the academic year 2015-16, the other two being Sathamangalam and Esanakorai.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to A.V. Rajapandian, district coordinator of the scheme, it has been planned to introduce five more schools -- Alampakkam and Keezha Arasur both in Pullampadi block and Koohur, Agalanganallur and South Chathiram in Lalgudi block from the forthcoming academic year 2016-17.
“On-line classes for students of VI, VII and VIII standards in English, mathematics and science subjects is one of the major advantages for the students,” Ms.Valayapathy said.
Training on spoken English was another facility in the online coaching.
ADVERTISEMENT
As schools with English as medium of instruction have been attracting the parents, this school offers has English medium section in its elementary wing.
Ms. Valayapathy said that a survey had been taken in all the villages for identifying the eligible children for admission to the first standard. “The propaganda aims at enrolling all 20 children identified in this village,” she said.