Date:17/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071754600600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Facilities to be augmented in schools

R. Vimal Kumar

On an outlay of Rs.13.98 crore earmarked under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Tuticorin district

Tuticorin: For achievement of ‘universalisation of elementary education’, the Department of School Education plans to augment the infrastructure at the government schools in the district on an outlay of Rs.13.98 crore earmarked under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), during this financial year.

Speaking to The Hindu, Amritaraj Jeyakaran, Chief Educational Officer (SSA), said that as part of the project, focus would be given to strengthen the existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water and maintenance grants.

Accordingly, a total of 51 additional class rooms would be established at select panchayat union and government schools at a total cost of Rs.1.66 crore before March 31, 2009.

To reduce chances of dropouts, a total of 15 primary schools in the district would be upgraded to upper primary level at a cost of Rs.1.95 crore.

“Upgrading of the primary schools will provide opportunity to more children to complete at least eight years of elementary schooling by 2010-11,” Mr. Jeyakaran said.

For enhancing the capacity of teachers, in-service training would be provided at the block resource centres and induction training conducted for newly recruited teachers on a total outlay of Rs.95.02 lakh.

Besides, specialised training programmes were planned for teachers managing ‘differently abled’ students and life skill training would be given to teachers at the district, block and cluster levels to strengthen the academic support structure.

Mr. Jeyakaran said that of the total project cost, Rs.44.15 lakh would be allocated towards maintenance of primary and upper primary schools.

“Schools in good condition will provide a better ambience of learning,” he added. A total of Rs.1 crore from the corpus would be utilised to enhance the communication skills of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students and to supply learning materials as well as science kits to children from minority communities.