more-in At a time when there is a huge rush to enrol students in private schools across the State, a voluntary organisation has studied the learning opportunities in 36 government schools in nine districts and come up with a status report and a set of recommendations. As 84% of the schools were established before 2000, it was clear that school education was a high priority for the government. But the government upgraded only 16% schools to high and higher secondary status in the last two decades, which indicated the low priority given to the educational needs of marginalised children, stated the report ‘Anaivarukkum Ugantha Palli Arasu Palli’, released by Samakalvi Iyakkam – Tamil Nadu on Friday. The report stated that it was important to increase the number of high and higher secondary schools in proportion to the increasing population and the number of elementary schools. The sample survey was done in 18 government schools, 13 higher secondary and five high schools in nine districts, including Chennai, Thiruvallur, Salem, Trichy, and Tirunelveli, between July and September, 2017. About 67% of schools had a student strength ranging from 500 to 2,000 and 28% had over 2,000 students. Among the students, 30% students were from SC/ST communities. While 90% of schools had a sufficient number of teachers as per student ratio, there were exceptions in science, maths and vocational education. About 22% of schools did not have science or maths teachers at the high school level, the report said. Well-qualified teachers The teachers were all qualified and on an average taught 21 to 30 classes a week. The student teacher ratio in 84% schools was 1:40. Also, the teachers were paid well and had permanent postings. Significantly, 94% school teachers had undergone training. Over 75% schools had safe drinking water facilities. While all the schools had toilets, only 22% schools had 15 toilets. In the rest, there were fewer toilets, which caused inconvenience to students. Surprisingly, 83% schools also had ramp facilities for disabled children. On the results front, 72% schools recorded over 90% pass in public exams and 94% schools ensured students participated in district and State-level sports. The study also found that 56% students travelled around 1-3 km to reach their schools while 28% travelled around 5 km. Social audit The study recommended that a social audit be immediately undertaken in all government schools across the State, budgetary allocation be increased and vacancies of teachers be filled at the earliest. All the 12,254 Gram Panchayats must also get their own higher secondary schools so children can have access to quality education in their neighbourhood, it said. The report recommended that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, be extended to all children in the age bracket of 3-18, which would also prevent child labour and child marriage. “We will be mapping all the districts to find out where we need high and higher secondary schools. Once we get an idea, we will start working on it,” said M.P. Nirmala, chairperson, Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR), who released the report.

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