20 middle schools in Vellore district may be upgraded

With the department planning to increase student admissions in government schools, the upgradation plan is expected to attract students from rural areas.

“We have recommended that 20 middle schools be upgraded to high schools as they meet all government requirements, including land availability and student strength,” an official said.

While middle schools were functioning as part of the educational set up in Panchayat Unions (PU) and were located on PU land, post the proposed upgradation they would come under the School Education Department directly.

Schools vying for upgrade require a minimum of 3 acres land and a student strength of 30 each in Classes 6, 7 and 8, officials said.

It may be recalled that the department in a bid to attract more students to primary schools conducted events in villages a few months ago, in which many philanthropists provided books, school bags, toys and other required educational materials.

However, teachers’ association sources said they were not convinced by the proposed upgradation move, adding that the focus should be on filling up of the nearly 200 teaching vacancies.

“With Vellore district already having more than 22,000 students in the higher secondary level, parents who think long term will be hesitant in admitting their wards in schools which lack teachers in higher classes,” an association member opined.