Govt, aided schools to be assessed for damage

Nearly 20,000 government and government-aided schools were functioning in 14 coastal districts including Chennai, which caters education to more than 26 lakh students.

A senior official from the School Education Department told DT Next that priority for immediate assessment will be given to schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Cuddalore.

He said other non-coastal rain-affected districts such as Vellore, Krishnagiri, and Dharmapuri will also be covered. “The school premises will be thoroughly checked by the district education officers along with the headmasters,” he added. Stating that apart from assessing the school campus, every classroom and its wall and roof will be checked to get the damaged data, he said: “Even the strength of the school building will be checked with the help of Public Works Department (PWD) officials”.

“The assessment work will have to be completed before the starting of next rainy session,” he said adding the inspection officers will be submitting their reports so that priority will be given for the repairs based on the size of the damage caused by rain.

The official said unwanted plants and bushes, which were grown inside and outside of the school premises, will also be cleared to keep the institutions away from reptiles. “With district education officers already in the process of sanitising the schools, the assessment works will be carried out simultaneously,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association president PK Ilamaran said teachers who are members of the association will distribute essential items such as dry ration, napkins, dresses, and medicines to the rain-affected students at their doorsteps.