Tamil Nadu launches education channel for students

This is the first initiative of its kind in the country. The government has a series of educational programmes planned for students studying in elementary to higher secondary.

Inaugurated by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the education channel titled “Kalvi Tholaikkatchi” has been set up with Rs 5 crore. It will be broadcast from 9 am to 9.30 pm through Tamil NaduArasu Cable TV Corporation and will also be available as a mobile application across Android and iOS platforms.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education told DT Next that the channel would initially be made available for about 10 hours every day and in a couple of months, be turned into a 24x7 channel.

“E-lectures with comprehensive explanations by the experts on difficult subjects will also be made available via the channel. The subjects will be suitable for students from Classes 1 to 12,” the official said.

He said that all the programmes were prepared by Directorate of School Education, comprising experts and academicians, including from Tamil Nadu State Council of Educational Research (SCERT). The official pointed out that exclusive programmes to improve communication skills and information technology learning, especially for rural areas, would also be given priority in the channel. He added that the department is also discussing with private parties to launch coaching programmes for competitive exams including NEET and JEE.

Earlier, during the launch, the Chief Minister said the all the programmes in the education channel has been designed at par with private channels.

“Students will benefit from this channel. It will telecast all education related news including teachers’ lectures, students’ inventions, interviews of various academicians, question and answer sessions and innovating teaching programmes,” Palaniswami said.

Stating that parents would soon encourage their children to watch the education channel from now onwards, he added said this channel would ensure that the parents are updated about the activities that take place in schools and the School Education Department.

Speaking at the occasion, School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan said that the education channel would help students learn from home. “They should make the best use of this opportunity,” he said.