Date:11/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011156280100.htm

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38 backward blocks to get model schools

R. Arivanantham

KRISHNAGIRI: The State Government has plans to establish model schools in 38 educationally backward blocks in 11 districts during the next academic year. Chief Educational Officers of these districts are busy identifying land to construct buildings for these schools.

In some of the districts land has been identified and request letters have been sent to the respective District Collectors for approval, sources in the Education Department told The Hindu.

The blocks identified are as follows: Nallur, Mangalore Panruti in Cuddalore district; Pennagaram, Karimangalam, Palacode in Dharmapuri; Shoolagiri, Veppanahalli, Kelemangalam in Krishnagiri; Ammapettai, Anthiyur, Kundadam, Nambiyur, T.N. Palayam, Moolanur in Erode; Kadavoor in Karur, Kolli Hills in Namakkal, Edappadi, Kadyampati, Kolathur Konganapuram, M. Chavadi, Yercaud, Nangavalli, Sankari, Veerapandi, Panaimarathupatti in Salem, S. Pudur in Sivaganga; Thandrampet, Jawadhu Hills in Thiruvannamalai; Thiyagadurugam, Ulundurpet, Thirunavalur, Thiruvennainallur, Rishivadhiyam, Kallakurchi, Thirukoilur and Narikudi in Virudhunagar districts.

These blocks were selected on the basis of literacy rates of males and females. The difference between the male and female literacy rates of these blocks ranges from 20 per cent to 30 per cent.

Cost

The Centre will bear 75 per cent of the cost and the States 25 per cent during the Eleventh Plan period. It will be 50:50 during the Twelfth Plan period. For special category states the funding ratio will be 90:10.

A note from the director, Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Human Resourse Development, K. Satish Namboodiripad on November 19 to Education Secretaries in-charge of Secondary Education in all States and Union Territories says that these schools will have Standard IX to Plus-Two if the medium of instruction is regional language or Standard VI to Plus-Two if the medium of instruction is English. These schools will be run by a separate body, similar to the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

State Governments and Union Territories are asked to send the proposal before December 15.

A meeting in this regard with CEOs of 11 districts was held in Coimbatore on December 20.