School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said that students from government schools in the State would be selected and taken on study trips abroad in December.
Speaking on the sidelines of Children’s Day celebrations organised by the School Education Department at M.C.C. Higher Secondary School, he said students — in groups of 25 — would be taken to Finland, Singapore and Malaysia, among other places.
Trips from December
“This will give them an opportunity to learn and observe the development and culture of those places. A hundred students will be selected and they will go on trips from December,” the Minister said. A cultural programme with dance and music performances was put up by students from schools across the city.
At the event, the Minister said that in the coming academic year, all school uniforms would be changed and new colours would be introduced.
D. Jayakumar, Minister for Fisheries, was present at the event.
When asked about the allegations of irregularities in the appointment of art teachers, Mr. Sengottaiyan said the department had initiated a re-verification of certificates for teachers who had been recruited.
“The department will also begin English language training for nearly 5,000 teachers,” he added.
Prizes were distributed to students who had won competitions conducted ahead of Children’s Day. The department also presented awards to librarians of district libraries.
