The Tamil Nadu government has decided to bring under the School Education Department all schools functioning under various departments like the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Wel- fare, Backward Class, Most Backward Class and Denotified Communities, the Hindu Religious and Char- itable Endowments andthe Forest.

During his Budget speech in the Assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said it would be ensured that the service conditions and benefits of teachers and staff currently working in these schools were protected.

The decision follows requests to the government to operate and maintain Adi Dravidar Welfare Schools through the School Education Department at State High-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meetings held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Chief Minister on August 19, 2021, and April 12, 2022.

The Minister said the aim was to achieve the goal of social justice in the field of education, improve the quality of schools functioning under various departments and impart quality education to students.

Pointing out that student enrolment in government schools had increased due to various initiatives launched by the DMK government, he said in the present year, works to the tune of 2,000 crore had been taken up to mo-

dernise and upgrade the physical infrastructure of government schools under Perasiriyar Anbazhagan School Development Scheme. In the upcoming financial year, the government will construct classrooms, laboratories and toilets at a cost of ₹1,500 crore.

The Minister further said an integrated scholarship portal would be created to reduce unnecessary delays in the disbursement of scholarships by various departments and ensure that the scholarship amounts reached eligible students on time.

Mr. Rajan said the Ennum Ezhuthum ргоgramme, launched to achieve Universal Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for students in Classes I-III by 2025, would be expanded to Classes IV and V.

The allocation for the scheme in the upcoming fi- nancial year is 110 crore.

Media: The Hindu