A proposal is being drawn up to open Residential School Training Centres (RSTC) in four places in Krishnagiri's hilly areas exclusively for tribals so that all students can get educated up to the higher secondary school level.

The four places are Tholluvabetta, Doddamanju, Manjukondapalli and Bethakulabetta, sources in the District Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department said.

The RSTCs are also expected to prevent children from dropping out after high school, discourage child marriages, the practice of child labour and to uplift the status of tribal people in the hilly areas.

These centres will not only be for formal schooling. They will also teach students skills like making handicrafts and sewing. Students who enrol in the first standard in these schools will continue till Plus Two as residential students.

The Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is determining the number of schools and students in a 5-km radius of the four places with the support of the School Education Department. After this is done, the proposal will be sent to the Department of Tribal Welfare, and the project implemented, they said.