Lockdown hits over 30 proposals, welfare schemes of School Edu dept

School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan had announced 36 new welfare schemes that would be undertaken with an allocation of about Rs 100 crore. These were expected to be implemented before 2020-21 financial year. These included computer-based exams for the recruitment by Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board by tying up with educational institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

However, said a senior official from the School Education Department, that more than 90 per cent of the announcements could not be implemented due to the total lockdown that began soon after the budget session in March due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“Only a few small schemes such as making available Thirukkural in all government and aided schools, improvisation of board exam marks sheets, setting up library at the DPI complex, setting up information centres in the proposed modern schools and providing training for the teachers to prepare question papers to bring out students’ talent were implemented so far,” he added.

Pointing out that most of the welfare schemes for students should have been implemented at the school level, like organising traditional food festival and conducting students exchange programme with schools in other states, the official said the proposed schemes could not be initiated because the institutions were closed due to the lockdown.

Even the proposal to change the name of Directorate of Matriculation to Directorate of Private Schools is still pending with the authorities.

“As per the proposal and schedule, all the projects have to be implemented before this financial year,” he said, expressing concern over the non-implementation of several welfare schemes.

“The government is keen to fulfil all the announcements and promises that were made in the Assembly. Except for the schemes that have to be undertaken at the school level, the rest of them have to be completed within the stipulated time because Assembly elections are on cards in May 2021,” he added.