Post pandemic, Tamil Nadu government schools woo parents and students alike

Loss of income and uncertainty forces many parents to switch their kids from private schools to government institutions. This may help many students from discontinuing schools and put them back in the classrooms.

Chennai: Enrolling children in schools is a daunting task for parents in India and Tamil Nadu is no exception as paying exorbitant fees and getting seats in a ‘good’ private institution is not an easy job. Yet, they undergo hardships to give the best education they can afford.

Usually, government schools are looked down upon. But, now the scenario is changing – thanks to the disruption caused by the pandemic and the lockdowns. More parents are opting for government schools in Tamil Nadu as they face loss of business or income.

Students joining Chennai Corporation schools are on the rise in the current academic year. “93,445 students have joined corporation schools out of which 18,991 are new joinees. We have amenities like smart class, playgrounds among others. Parents who lost income are changing their kids from private institutions,” said Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Assistant Education officer Bhaktha Priya.

Chennai has 281 government schools that include 119 primary schools, 92 middle schools, 38 high schools and 32 higher secondary schools.

Government schools across Tamil Nadu are reaching out to students and parents and persuading them to join government educational institutions. Teachers and headmasters walk to the doors of the residents in underprivileged areas with Pazham and Thamboolam (Fruit & Betal leafs) - a traditional offering provided to the guests on auspicious occasions. They also distribute pamphlets explaining the facilities in their schools.

Some teachers even call students using tandora drum beats, which were the traditional means to spread information before the advent of telecommunication systems. Government schools also conduct special admission camps to improve student enrollment. Many government teachers believe that the perception of state-run schools is changing in recent years due to the steady efforts by the school education department.

A government school in central Tamil Nadu issues guarantee cards for students to enhance enrollment. A village primary school near Thuraiyur in Trichy district has implemented this programme, which has been well received. According to the Headmistress, the school promises to equip the students in education and ethics as well as sports. Now, the school is a Model School in the region.

Speaking to ETV Bharat Tamil Nadu, Roslin Suguna, Headmistress of the Govindarajapuram village primary school, Trichy, says that, “Apart from Education we teach soft skills, listening skills, verbal skills, extra-curricular activities and games. We guarantee parents that their kids will excel in these topics. We’re the first in the state to follow this method”. After Rosalin took charge, enrolment in Govindarajapuam increased 172%.

Meanwhile, the state government is in the process of eradicating the barriers in distance education. As schools are closed due to the Covid-19, the state government broadcasted the classes in Kalvi Tholaikatchi- a dedicated satellite channel for school education and other minor channels. Though there are WhatsApp groups and other means for online classes in government schools, where videos of the subjects are sent, the state government has made this arrangement to ensure that the students who can’t afford online education due to the non-availability of digital gadgets and the internet facilities don’t skip education in the pandemic.

The school education department also conducted a door-to-door survey to get feedback on lessons taught in the kalvi TV classes. Students feel that classes are simple and clear, but the only drawback, according to education department officials, is that students can't ask questions to clarify doubts on the subjects to the teachers.

The Corporation schools in Chennai are going an extra mile to improve the education standard of their schools and are matched with private peers. It, along with the rotary club, has been taking students to other states and foreign countries on field trips. In 2018, 8 students were taken to the US space research agency NASA.

Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in public education starting from British rule and that was carried out well by the preceding rulers. Kamaraj's famous mid-day meal scheme, DMK and AIADMK governments free bicycles, Notebooks, uniforms and laptops to the school's students are some of the reasons cited for improvement of literacy in the state.

Now, after the pandemic, many studies point out the risk of an increase in child labour due to poverty. During these challenging times, this initiative by the government schools in Tamil Nadu will ensure the kids pick pens and pencils not the screwdrivers and hammers.