Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced that government will set up 2,283 smart classes in government schools across the state at a cost of Rs 42.92 crore. Making the announcement in the Assembly on Friday, he said that smart classes will be introduced in government elementary and middle schools.
He said that drinking water facilities will be established at a cost of Rs 48.96 crore in 2,448 high schools and higher secondary schools in the state. He said that teachers would be given special training to adapt to the new curriculum of school education and they will also be briefed on how to use the National Teacher Portal and how to upload new modules to it.
He said that one model school will be set up in each of the 32 districts and infrastructure will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 50 lakh per school. Government has allotted Rs 60 crore for the project. Government and government-aided schools will be provided with skill charts for all students at a cost of Rs 11.25 crore. The chart will have various new elements along with linking facility to Aadhaar.
He also announced that all constituent colleges of state run universities will be upgraded to government arts and science colleges. A total fund of Rs 152.20 crore has been allotted for upgrading the colleges. In all, 264 more new subjects would be introduced in 2018-19 academic year along with the existing 1,232 subjects, making 683 new vacancies for assistant professors in the colleges. Government will also construct 324 classrooms, 50 laboratories and infrastructure at a cost of Rs 62.75 crore. He also said that government will build new hostels to accommodate at least 150 students per college in government engineering colleges located at Bargur, Coimbatore, Karaikudi, Tirunelveli, Salem and Vellore. The new hostels will be built at a total cost of Rs 37 crore.
