School Improvement Scheme Launched In Coimbatore
Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu (third right) exchanging a memorandum of understanding with an official from CRI Pumps for the school improvement scheme launched in Coimbatore on Monday. Any scheme launched by the government becomes successful only if it involves participation of the public, Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu said here on Monday.
Launching the ‘Pallikal Valarpom’ scheme initiated by the Ministry of School Education in collaboration with the Bannari Amman Rural Development Agency, he said the scheme indicated the beginning of a synergy between the government and the private sector in their work towards a common goal of improving the quality of education in schools. The intervention of individuals and corporate houses in the welfare of schools in their community could bring about positive changes in the education system. New methods such as activity-based learning was doing a great deal towards instilling confidence in students and converting the teacher-centric system into a student-oriented learning process.
Coimbatore was not new to the concept as Bharathiar University had already initiated the “one college adopt one school” programme and a lot of corporates were helping the government schools in the district with funds and infrastructure. The government would continue its work in improving the basic infrastructure of schools; but if private parties could identify areas where they could be of help and act on it, hundreds of students studying in the government schools would be benefited, he said.
The Minister also urged the teachers to introduce new teaching methodologies incorporating technology. Principal Secretary (School Education) M.Kuttralingam said the general public could assist the government schools in appointing teachers, extending training to teachers, constructing and maintaining toilets, and providing laboratories and equipment, computers, drinking water facilities, libraries, books, appointing librarians and facilities for providing sanitary napkins for girls and evening snacks. Head of the Bannari Amman Group S.V.Balasubramaniam said providing basic infrastructure in schools would attract more students to schools.
Drop-out rates would go down too. If the private sector joined hands with the government, the schools could function efficiently. “We are not going to replace the government. We are just assisting them in their work,” he said. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Mr.Thennarasu and Mr.Balasubramaniam to mark the launch of the scheme. District Collector V.Palanikumar, Director of School Education P.Perumalsamy, and Honorary Advisor Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan M.P.Vijaykumar, spoke.
