Major revamp for Corporation-run schools

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on December 23, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/major-revamp-for-corporation-run-schools/346112.html

CHENNAI: Spelling out the much-anticipated process to improve quality of education in the Corporation-run Chennai Schools, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy on Thursday announced that a detailed survey on how to improve enrolments in its educational institutions has already been initiated and a major revamp is on the cards.

Replying to a resolution at the Corporation Council meet allowing distribution of five types of cereals as evening food for 16,000-odd class X and XII students, who will be attending special classes before taking their public exams in another three months, Duraisamy said, “As per the direction of the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to improve quality of education in Corporation-run Chennai Schools, we have launched a detailed survey.”

“The survey, which has been initiated to find the pointers like why enrolments went down in Chennai schools, deficiencies in school infrastructure and what could be done to increase enrolments, would help the civic body chalk out its strategy in the future to improve quality of education in the schools,” Duraisamy said.

The new scheme, where the civic body has planned to distribute nutritious cereals for students attending evening special classes, was the Corporation’s firm step towards achieving good results in class X and XII public exams and the result would help the Corporation tell parents about the quality of education in Chennai schools, the Mayor added.

Duraisamy also appealed to the elected representatives to disseminate information about achievements by Chennai schools among the locals (in their respective wards) to improve enrolment in its schools.

Under the proposal, which would be implemented from January 1, the civic body would be spending about Rs 25 lakh for two months.

On a query about extension of the scheme (in case exams were delayed), from a councillor, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy assured that the scheme would be extended till required.