Science labs in government colleges to get new equipment

As a part of this endeavour, all old equipment in the labs will be replaced with new facilities by importing them from foreign countries. A senior official from the Higher Education Department said that the Collegiate Education Department intends to provide science lab equipment for practical subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology to students studying in government arts and science colleges located at various placesin Tamil Nadu.

“Most of the lab equipment that is being handled by the students is outdated. Therefore, the decision to replace all old equipment with new machines and equipment was made,” he added.

According to the official, currently, 139 government colleges and 162 government-aided colleges are providing higher education to more than 15 lakh students across the state.

The State had already sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the purchase of lab equipment and for providing other facilities to government arts and science colleges.

Various lab materials meant for Physics practical classes including transistor power supply with digital display, digital balance, cathode ray oscilloscope with digital display, travelling microscope, spectrometer, microprocessor, function generator, logic trainer kit among others will be purchased from multi-national companies.

Similarly, for Chemistry practical classes, equipment like digital potentiometer, digital conductivity meter, digital electronic balance, electric Bunsen with regulator, electrical water bath, electrical centrifuge, vacuum pump, digital photo colorimeter among others will also be procured.

Likewise, for Botany practical classes, equipment like high-tech microscope, binocular microscope, calorimeter, autoclave and digital meters will be sourced. For Zoology practical classes, equipment like dissection microscope, refrigerated centrifuge, electric Bunsen burner, deep freezer among others will be purchased.

The official said all new lab equipment will be purchased by the end of January. “The new lab equipment will be sent to the colleges by February,” he added.