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‘Smart School’ concept to be extended to more government schools

— Photo:T. Singaravelou

ALL SET FOR INAUGURATION: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy releasing the logo for the National Science Exhibition to be held in Puducherry. Minister for Education MOHF Shahjahan and Education Secretary A.C. Verma are in the picture.

PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Wednesday said the concept of ‘Smart School’ would be extended to more government schools in the Union Territory.

Speaking at a children’s day function organised by the Department of School Education, he said the concept had been introduced to reduce the burden of carrying books to school, besides using flash card system to teach children in an easy manner.

Emphasising the need for keeping abreast with technological advances, Mr. Rangasamy said the Central Government had provided Rs 12.75 crore to provide computers to all schools in the Union Territory right from the primary classes.

He said the government was providing everything from uniform to books to breakfast and noon meals so that it could reduce the burden on parents.

He also criticised the parents who send their children to work, who did not allow their wards to avail themselves of these benefits.

Minister for Education M.O.H.F. Shahjahan said for the first time the Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition would be conducted in Puducherry in December. The President, Prathiba Patil, had agreed to participate in the celebrations. A poster and logo for the exhibition were released at the function.

The Minister, who stressed the need for creating quality human resources, said steps had been taken to start a department for Youth Affairs.

Prizes were distributed to children, who won in a painting competition on energy conservation conducted by the Ministry of Power. Secretary Education A.C. Verma and Director of School Education G. Ragesh Chandra were also present.

Children’s Day was marked by functions in all government and private schools. At the Saday School for Special Needs, Pradesh Congress Committee president P. Shanmugam witnessed cultural programmes by special children.

The Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School had organised a science exhibition, which was inaugurated by MLA K. Lakshminarayanan.

At the Uppalam Immaculate Sacred Heart School, Children’s day brought a sweet surprise with local MLA A. Anbalagan announcing a cash award of Rs 4000 each to children studying from Class I to VIII, who come first in their respective classes in the next academic year. Students of the Pondicherry University’s Department of Sociology celebrated Children’s day at Arul Ashram, Kalapet.

The Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and Congress leaders garlanded the statue of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Mr. Shanmugam led the Congress cadres in paying floral tributes to the leader to mark his birth anniversary at the party office this morning. Ministers, MLAs, members of the INTUC and local body representatives participated. The Puducherry Munnetra Congress also celebrated the birth anniversary by paying floral tributes and distributing sweets to cadres.

Leader of PMK Parliamentary party M. Ramadass in a statement urged the government to form a Commission for Child Welfare.

This would ensure the holistic development of children, he said, adding that he would seek necessary clearances from the Central Government for this.

In the midst of all these celebrations for children, elders were not forgotten. The Puducherry Society for the Care of the Aged conducted a medical camp with cardiology specialists at their day care-cum-recreation centre in Brindavanam.

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