Enrolment of students in government schools in the district has increased in the past two years because of introduction of English medium education in several schools, say officials of the School Education Department.
According to officials, a total of 1,870 students have joined Class VI English medium sections this year in 137 government schools in the three educational districts of Madurai, Melur and Usilampatti. Last year, 1,674 students joined the English medium sections.
“English medium sections were introduced in 119 schools last year and in 18 more this year. The number of students enrolling is gradually increasing,” said J. Angelo Irudhayasamy, Chief Educational Officer.
This year, English medium classes had been introduced in Class VII as well. Until last year, only a few government schools had English medium classes.
“Encouraged by better enrolment last year, we conducted door-to-door campaigns in rural areas to publicise the English medium sections. Periodic training programmes are also being organised for teachers to improve quality of teaching,” Mr. Irudhayasamy said.
P.V. Tamil Selvi, Headmistress of Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Mahaboopalayam, one of the few government schools in the district to have English medium sections for several decades, said the school recorded an increase in student strength in English medium sections ever since ‘Samacheer Kalvi’ was introduced.
The school had a total strength of 1,218 students, with around 425 of them in English medium sections from Classes VI to XII.
“We have a considerable number of students in the past two years, who left reputed private institutions to join our school. Most of the parents feel it is better to enrol their wards in government schools rather than in private schools because the syllabus is the same,” she told The Hindu on Monday.
Officials further said the State government was laying emphasis on improving the infrastructure in government schools to match those in private institutions.
“The State has allocated Rs.88 lakh to complete construction of 12 schools. We are also awaiting the results of a basic achievement survey to formulate teaching methodologies according to the requirement of the students,” said Mr. Irudhayasamy.
