770 government schools to get a virtual makeover

12-point programme for improving school education in the State announced

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced a 12-point programme for improving school education in the State including opening of new schools, recruitment of teachers, supply of Simplified Activity Based Learning (SABL) cards, introduction of bio-metric attendance register, distribution of math kit and creation of virtual classrooms in 770 government schools.

As per the Chief Minister’s announcement, government-aided schools will also get some of the benefits. She also increased the prize money for the Best Teacher ( nallasiriyar ) award to Rs. 10,000 from Rs. 5,000.

In a suo motu statement in the Assembly, she said the accessibility to primary schools in Tamil Nadu was 98.30 per cent and middle schools was 99 per cent.

“We will open five new primary schools and three primary schools would be elevated as middle schools; 19 middle schools will be elevated as high schools,” she said.

To meet the requirement of teachers, the government will create 10 secondary-grade teacher and 95 graduate teacher vacancies. The schools will also get separate toilets for boys and girls, drinking water facility and kitchens. A total of Rs. 28.52 crore has been allocated for this.

The government on its part would allot Rs. 60.79 crore in the current year to improve the infrastructure in schools.

The Chief Minister said SABL cards would be distributed to 7,000 government and government-aided schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Vellore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thoothukudi and Krishnagiri districts. The government will allot Rs. 5 crore for the project. Ms. Jayalalithaa announced Rs. 8 crore for providing rain coats, nooks and socks to students of government and government-aided schools in tribal habitats.

Exposure to IT To ensure students get uniform quality education and exposure to information technology, the government will set up virtual classrooms in 770 government schools and 11 district teachers training institutes. Infrastructure facilities at teacher training institutes in Coimbatore, Perambalur and Dharmapuri districts would be improved for effective implementation of the programme.

The Chief Minister said students of 38,030 government and aided primary schools and 8,603 government and aided middle schools would get math kits to improve their skills in mathematics. Similarly, science equipment boxes would be given to 24,103 government and aided primary schools and 2,900 middle schools. To encourage the reading habit and improve general knowledge, the government would distribute books. Computer learning centres in 555 government middle schools would also be launched.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said that bio-metric attendance registers would be set up at a cost of Rs. 45.57 crore to dispense with the old system of manual attendance. The government would spend Rs. 11 crore to create awareness about free and compulsory education, the importance of educating girls, gender sensitivity and cleanliness.