The Tamil Nadu government on Monday, September 5, launched the Schools of Excellence (SoE) and Model Schools Scheme, which is broadly based on schools in Delhi with upgraded infrastructure and improved learning opportunities.
Launching the scheme in the presence of his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that states should learn from each other on good practices, transcending party politics, and called for Centre-states cooperation to give fillip to the school education sector, as stated in a report by PTI.
If state and central governments came together, Kejriwal said that within five years, all government schools in the country could provide the best education to students. The Delhi CM inaugurated the scheme in an event held at the state-run Bharathi Women's College in Tamil Nadu. Though everyone wanted the country to become developed, he wondered if it was possible if 66 per cent children get "rotten education" in state-run schools.
As many as 26 Schools of Excellence and 15 Model Schools are covered under the TN government scheme, apparently in the initial phase. 'Thagaisal Palligal' and 'Mathiri Palligal' are the official Tamil names for the SoE and Model Schools.
Details about the scheme
The Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammayar memorial 'Puthumai Penn' (Modern Woman) Scheme, which was launched by Stalin, provides a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to girl students pursuing higher education, who studied in government schools from Class VI to XII. The students would be eligible for this assistance in addition to other scholarships.
Through this programme, approximately six lakh girl students could potentially benefit each year. He said the 'Puthumai Penn' scheme would prove to be path breaking and revolutionary in the times to come not just for women of Tamil Nadu but for the whole country, as per PTI. This scheme incentivised education for girl students and also prevented early marriages, he said. About 66 per cent of students go to government schools across the country, he noted.
The Tamil Nadu CM also distributed bank debit cards to student beneficiaries, marking the launch of the financial assistance scheme. In his address, Kejriwal said it is very important that state governments learn good work being done from each other.
Why is the scheme being introduced?
Barring a few regions that witness initiatives to provide good education in the state sector, like in Delhi, Tamil Nadu and other states, the condition of most other government schools across the country is "really pathetic," said Kejriwal. Unless and until good education is made available on par with private institutions, the dream of becoming a developed country would always remain distant, he said, as per PTI.
It is the right of every child to get free of cost and quality education and it should be the duty of every government to make it available. "This should have happened in 1947 itself. During the past 75 years of independence, the requisite emphasis has not been provided for education,” Kejriwal said. Referring to the initiatives to improve and upgrade quality of education in government schools in Delhi and Tamil Nadu, he batted for all state and central governments to join hands to provide excellent educational opportunities in state-run schools across the country.
Kejriwal said he was disheartened to learn some state government schools are closed down, while, in others, fees are being hiked. In such a scenario, he asked if the poor man could afford to educate his children. Also, it meant that almost two-thirds of children in the country would remain illiterate and consequently, the nation cannot progress, he said as per PTI. It may be recalled that, reportedly, several government run primary schools were shut and a section of them merged, in Gujarat.
The Delhi CM lauded the launch of new educational schemes of the Tamil Nadu government on the Teachers' Day. Recalling Stalin's April visit to government schools and Mohalla clinics in the national capital and his resolve to replicate the SoE initiative, Kejriwal said that he thought it may take two to three years for Tamil Nadu to emulate the Delhi model.
He said that he was pleasantly surprised that Stalin had completed the task within six months. In April, along with Kejriwal, Stalin had visited government schools in Delhi and praised the infrastructure in such institutions. He had then said his government would set up similar educational facilities in Tamil Nadu and invited Kejriwal for inauguration following completion of work.
During the Budget 2022-23, the state government had said the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Memorial Marriage Assistance Scheme is being transformed into the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme. The enrolment ratio of girl students from government schools in higher education is very low and the scheme's revamp was in recognition of that aspect. For this new scheme, an amount of Rs 698 crore has been allotted in the budget.
