The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Education drive yields dividends

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 25, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Education drive yields dividends

G. Mahadevan

Good results for schools under the civic body Corporation schools fare well in SSLC examinations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The `Nooru Meni' programme put in place by the city corporation last year to improve the academic standards of the schools under its care has yielded good results with almost all the high schools posting good results in the SSLC examinations.

In 24 of the 26 high schools under the corporation, the pass percentage in this SSLC examinations was more than what these schools achieved last year.

In some schools, the pass percentage increased manifold. At the high school in Kalady, for instance, the pass percentage jumped from 16.6 (in 2006) to 82.1, this year. Again, at the high school in Kamaleswaram, the pass percentage went up from 37 in 2006 to 79.1, this year.

Survey held

Chairman of the corporation's standing committee on education G.R. Anil said that under the `Nooru Meni' programme a comprehensive survey of all the schools under the corporation was carried out.

"We looked at everything from the teaching / learning atmosphere at these schools to the infrastructure facilities.

"We gave special attention to the socio-economic background of the students. We prepared detailed reports on the schools," he explained.

One of the major revelations of the survey was that on an average only 5.8 per cent of the students in any given corporation school were from families that had a steady monthly income.

Even in a `big-name' Government school such as Cotton Hill HS, this figure was only 8.5 per cent.

Focus on infrastructure

The corporation started off by tackling the infrastructure problems in the schools. Priority was given to girls' schools where drinking water facilities and toilet facilities were augmented.

In some schools it was the drainage facility that needed attention.

Last year, the corporation spent Rs.5.5 lakh under this programme for providing adequate drinking water facilities in its schools.

This year, it has set apart Rs.1 crore for augmenting building facilities in various schools.

Next on the priority list was tackling the problems relating to teaching/ learning environment and lack of educational infrastructure such as computers.

House visits

After identifying students hailing from very poor families and from families where an atmosphere conducive to learning did not exist, teams of teachers fanned out visiting these homes and convincing parents about the need to educate their children properly.

Mr. Anil said the teachers were at first reluctant to go into some of the colonies in the city. But later, they recorded their appreciation at the kind of reception they were given at the homes there.

The activities under the `Nooru Meni' programme were backed up by a support group headed by the local ward councillor.

Special tuitions

In nine schools, special tuitions were given to children after school hours. The corporation spent about Rs.1 lakh giving food to such students.

In this year's budget, the corporation has set apart Rs.5 lakh for the purpose.

A spin-off benefit of the programme was that the PTAs in many schools became actively involved in academic activities.

The corporation's working group on education will meet shortly to finalise the implementation of the Nooru Meni programme this year.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section