Tribal schools ace Class 12 boards, beat state average

In this backdrop, an interesting fact that has reached the power corridors at the Secretariat is that directors of government departments such as Backward Classes, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare has reported better pass percentage of the students belonging to the economically weaker sections and denotified communities in the just concluded board exams, this year.

For example, the Kallar Reclamation Higher Secondary Schools (KRHS) run by the State Backward Class Development Department has emerged victorious in the recent Class 12 exams surpassing the state pass percentage of 85.94 per cent. These schools mostly located in rural pockets of Theni, Madurai and Dindigul provide education for children belonging to 68 denotified downtrodden communities. Though coming from the lower economic strata, the children have secured a pass percentage of 92 per cent, department of backward and most backward classes sources told DT Next.

Secretary of Most Backward and Minorities Welfare Department B Chandramohan said a total of 1,631 students appeared for Class 12 board exams from KR Schools. Of this 1,505 students have passed, this year. The pass percentage is 92.27 per cent and constantly there is a marginal increase in the pass percentage of KR Schools run by the state. Out of 38 KRHS Schools, 8 schools have secured cent per cent pass. First mark is 536/600, the secretary informed.

For the educational advancement of the denotified communities, special incentives are given and the dropouts have been reduced. During the academic year 2019-2020, English medium has been introduced for Class 6 in 15 government Kallar Reclamation Schools.

“Distribution of free cycles, laptops, free meals and special cash incentives had played a major role in shaping the education system in rural areas. TN has been a progressive state when boosting the downtrodden through education,” observed political commentator R Mani.