Infrastructure development of government schools at a cost of Rs 3,117 crore in four and a half years
Tamil Nadu: The government has reported that ₹3,117 crore has been spent on improving the infrastructure and maintenance of government schools in Tamil Nadu over the past four and a half years.
A government press release on Sunday stated: Over the past four and a half years, Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of educational development. The ‘Ilam Thedike Kalvi’ scheme, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, has received ₹660.35 crore from 2021 to the current academic year. Volunteers have benefited 9.597 million students. Currently, 797,000 students from grades 1 to 5 are currently benefiting.
Numeracy and Literacy Project: The ‘Numum Ishtum’ project was launched to improve the basic literacy and numeracy skills of children from grades 1 to 5. Children are provided with books in simple language, benefiting 2.5 million primary school students and 4.45 million secondary school students.
Inclusive Education: The Nalam Nadi App is being used to provide special education to students with disabilities. This academic year, Aadhaar linking and corrections were completed for 7,656,074 students in government and government-aided schools under the Aadhaar scheme. ₹352.42 crore was spent to build 38 model schools, one in each district. Additionally, to expand the learning horizon for students and teachers, each school in 28 districts has been upgraded to a Takaisal school at a cost of ₹100 crore.
Reformed Vocational Education Curriculum: The reformed vocational education curriculum includes in-service training for Plus 1 and Plus 2 students and skill development training for teachers. Laptops have been provided to 79,723 secondary school teachers, schools have been upgraded, and 14,019 secondary, graduate, and post-graduate teachers have been temporarily appointed.
Infrastructure Development: Under the Professor Anbazhagan School Development Scheme, to improve school infrastructure, ₹2,917.03 crore has been spent on infrastructure development works, including construction of classroom buildings, laboratories, and restrooms in 4,426 schools from the 2022-23 academic year. These schools include 1,098 government higher and secondary schools and 2,455 panchayat union primary and middle schools. ₹2,917.03 crore has been spent on construction of classroom buildings, laboratories, and restrooms. Additionally, ₹200 crore has been allocated for maintenance work.
Tamil Puthulavan Scheme: The Tamil Puthulavan Scheme provides a monthly scholarship of ₹1,000 to Tamil medium students from 6th to Plus 2 in government and government-aided schools. Over 3.28 lakh students benefited from this scheme in the academic year 2024-2025.
In addition, 896,033 individuals benefited from the Innovative Women’s Program, which provides ₹1,000 per month to female students from 6th to Plus 2 in government schools and pursuing higher education.
The Namma Schools Namma Uru Schools project, with groups developing leadership qualities in schools, has raised over ₹658.67 crore from public contributions. The Rural Government-funded Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme has been launched for all government schools from July 2023. In Madurai, the Kalaignar Centenary Library will receive ₹1,000. It is said to have been built at a cost of Rs 218.19 crore.
