2.17 lakh students in Tamil Nadu have joined schools under Right to Education

Around 2.17 lakh students have joined various schools in Tamil Nadu under Right to Education, Minister for School Education, K C Veeramani said. Replying to a query raised by CPI MLA V Ponnupandi in the Assembly, he said that from 2013-14 till July 31 2015, about 2.17 lakh students were studying in various schools under Right to Education”. For implementing the scheme the Centre was supposed to sanction Rs 97 crore to the State, but the state government was yet to receive the funds, he said.

“Since there is a delay from the Centre in releasing the funds, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said government sanctioned the fund and the students joined the schools”, he said to thumping of desks by party MLAs. To another remark made by Poonupandi that there has been a decrease in the number of students joining government schools, Veermani denied it and said during 2011-12 about 47.95 lakh students joined government schools. “The number increased to 48.52 lakh in 2014-15”, he said.

On the teacher student ratio, Veeramani said compared to the practice of appointing one teacher per 30 students in primary schools it was 1:25 in Tamil Nadu. “At the senior secondary level compared to earlier practice of 1:35 students, there is a teacher for 27 students. In higher secondary schools the ratio is one teacher to 30 students against the practice of one teacher to 40 students”, he said.

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