The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Intensive drive to readmit 8,000 dropouts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 29, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Intensive drive to readmit 8,000 dropouts

By Shastry V Mallady

MADURAI, NOV.28. The Education department has launched an intensive drive in the district to get back school dropouts to classrooms through the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan that is being actively carried out at the village level.

The department estimated that there are 8,000 children in the district from primary to middle school level, who are school dropouts and emphasis is given to put them in schools again by utilising the services of the SSA volunteers.

The Chief Educational Officer of the district, R. Pitchai, told The Hindu that the department was appointing special volunteers covering all places and these SSA volunteers were being placed at 150 identified centres in the district.

"The volunteers will work in coordination with the schools and special training is given to them," he said. Stating that the total target was to bring back 8,000 dropouts, the CEO said that the department was in the process of meeting half the target soon.

A review meeting was held for two days in the district last week to monitor the implementation of SSA at school-level. R. Narayanaswamy, Director of Matriculation Schools, Government of Tamil Nadu, reviewed the progress in the district and held discussion with the district officials.

Young talent scheme

Mr. Pitchai said the Education department was for the first time conducting a mega cultural festival for the children of government and aided-schools in the district on December 6 at the Nirmala Girls Higher Secondary School.

Students from 208 schools in three educational districts of Madurai, Melur and Usilampatti would participate in the events held under the Young Talent Scheme of the State Government.

He said that it was the first time that such a massive talent hunt was taking place for government school students at the revenue district-level. According to the CEO, 600 students from Sixth class to Plus-Two will take part in the competitions that include elocution, drawing, dance, drama, essay writing, singing etc. The final winners at district-level will be participating in the State-level event to take place at Tiruchi during January.

The Department, Mr. Pitchai said, is appointing 50 special teachers for only government schools on a consolidated salary basis. The teachers will be for physical education, tailoring and drawing. The appointments will be completed soon, he said.

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