To reduce school dropouts, Tamil Nadu confers awards on all-rounders

KA Sengottaiyan, School Education Minister, on Tuesday said, “The awards will be given based on the student’s performance in board examinations as well as in the field of fine arts, sports, science, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.”

In addition to this, government school teachers will also be given awards on Teacher’s Day in order to encourage them to handle their classes by using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) solutions and promote co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. 

The teachers will also be encouraged to collaborate with community members of their locality for the benefit of schools and increase student enrolment for school education.

Stating that the Class 10 students will be awarded Rs 10,000 and Class 12 students will be given Rs 20,000, the minister said, “A total of 960 students will be given awards on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.” 

The minister also said that as many as 192 teachers have been selected for this award and they were be given a cash prize of Rs 10,000 along with a certificate of appreciation.

“On a National perspective, the State Government has communicated to the Centre to increase the teachers’ award as this year it was reduced drastically. In addition to student’s and teacher’s award, ‘Puthumai Palli’ award will also be constituted for the schools that promote student enrolment, implements innovative teaching methodology, fulfils the prescribed infrastructure requirement and works collaboratively with the public for the betterment of school,” the minister shared. 

Four government schools from each district, one each from elementary, middle, high and higher secondary schools would be selected for the ‘Puthumai Palli’ award. Primary and middle schools would be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and secondary and higher secondary schools with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh. 

“On the whole, 128 schools will be selected for this award. This award money will be utilised to further strengthen their efforts and make the school a model school,” the minister said.