Chennai, June 2
Government schools across Tamil Nadu will reopen on Monday after the summer vacation, with a renewed focus on digital learning and foundational skill-building in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The CBSE and other board schools in the state are scheduled to reopen between June 2 and 6.
From this academic year, digital intervention will begin as early as Class I, with all government primary schools now equipped with smart boards.
Elementary Education Director P.A. Naresh said students will benefit from a “unique experience†of digital learning from the very first day of school. “All primary schools now have smart boards, while middle schools have been provided with hi-tech labs. Our core focus this year will be increasing enrolment, sustaining student attendance, enhancing learning outcomes, and maintaining zero tolerance for POCSO-related offences,†he added.
In preparation for reopening, schools across the city have cleaned and refreshed campuses and held teacher meetings to plan academic schedules. As of now, over 1.85 lakh students have enrolled in Class I in government schools, and the number is expected to cross four lakh by the end of June.
For Classes 6 to 8, the state government is launching a new initiative called ‘Thiran’, aimed at improving reading and writing skills in both Tamil and English, along with basic mathematics.
“We are prioritising the improvement of language and arithmetic skills,†said School Education Director S. Kannappan. “Teachers have been instructed to use online resources to improve students’ pronunciation and spoken English. To strengthen basic math, we are emphasising daily repetition of multiplication tables.â€
The state government has also announced a major curriculum and syllabus revision across all classes, to be implemented from the 2025–26 academic year. However, this year, the government has not conducted Right to Education (RTE) admissions in private schools due to pending reimbursements from the Union government. Typically, around 70,000 students join 8,000 private schools annually under the RTE Act.
Some schools are introducing foundational classes for NEET and JEE from Class 9 onwards, while Chennai Corporation schools have set ambitious goals to improve board exam results and increase admissions. “We want more top scorers in Classes 10 and 12 this year,†said Padmaja R., headmistress of Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, Saidapet.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative by TN government! Digital learning from Class 1 will bridge the urban-rural education gap. But I hope teachers receive proper training to use these smart boards effectively. Many rural schools struggle with tech adoption. #DigitalIndia
As a parent, I'm excited about the 'Thiran' program for language skills. My daughter in Class 7 struggles with English pronunciation. Hope the online resources help! But pls don't neglect Tamil proficiency while pushing English ðŸ™
Smart boards are good, but what about electricity and internet in villages? My cousin's school in Dindigul faces daily power cuts. Infrastructure must keep pace with tech dreams. Also, NEET coaching from Class 9? Too much pressure too soon!
Daily multiplication tables practice is excellent! These basics are missing in today's education. But concerned about RTE admissions being paused - many poor students depend on this. Centre and state should resolve reimbursement issues quickly.
Good steps, but implementation is key. Last year's tablet scheme had many issues. Hope this digital push is better managed. Also, focus on teacher-student ratio - some Chennai schools have 50+ kids per class! Quality over quantity please.
As a teacher in govt school, we welcome the changes but need more support. Smart boards are useless without proper training and maintenance. And why no mention of increasing our salaries? 😊 Digital is good, but motivated teachers matter more!
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