Internet connection in TN govt primary schools to be downgraded to 50 MBPS
In May 2024, the State government signed an agreement with BSNL to give internet connection to over 20,000 State-run schools
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CHENNAI: Since the State government has tied up with BSNL for internet facility at government schools, the public telecom utility recently revised the plan under the Samagra Shiksha (SS) scheme, as per the request from the Department of School Education.
As a part of improvising infrastructure and providing internet facility to State-run schools, 100 MBPS internet connections have already been implemented from January in government primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools across the State.
The revised tariff is being done for primary schools from 100 MBPS to 50 MBPS. The BSNL notification said, “As per the request of the School Education Department, internet tariff has been revised based on the requirement. This down-gradation of bandwidth and tariff for primary schools will be effective from February.”
Meanwhile, teachers of government schools alleged that connections are yet to be given to several schools. In May 2024, the State government signed an agreement with BSNL to give internet connection to over 20,000 State-run schools. This decision was particularly welcomed among teachers, especially in remote villages as it will save them trips to internet centres.
Meanwhile, the Union government has been depriving the TN School Education Department of funds under the SS scheme. For TN, Rs 3,533 crore was approved for 2023-24 academic year, but the Ministry of Education is yet to release their share of Rs 2,152 crore. TN’s share is Rs 1,434 crore.
“The Union government is urging the State government to sign a MoU with the centre to implement the PM SHRI schools in the State. Only upon which the fund of Rs 2,152 crore under the Integrated School Education scheme will be released,” stated a recent press note from the School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.
Since funds have been withheld, the State government is supposed to have been burdened with additional expenditures like salary payments and implementation of various schemes under SS.
