CHENNAI: In continuing efforts to make its schools on par with private schools in the city, Greater Chennai Corporation last week allotted Rs 20 crore to improve facilities in four of its schools.
A football ground where the popular 7s tournament can be conducted, a volleyball court and an integrated toilet complex accessible to children with disabilities are among the planned upgrades.
The development will be in the Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School at Market Street in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zone, the Chennai Middle School at Gandhigramam in Adyar zone, Chennai Primary and Higher Secondary School in Anna Nagar zone and the Chennai Primary and High School in New Market farm in Tondiarpet zone.
The allocations have been made under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) programme which has international funding. Of the total Rs 95.25 crore to be spent under the scheme, Rs 19.05 crore will be given by Chennai Smart City Ltd. Twenty eight corporation-run school campuses will be revamped with changes to teaching methodology and teachers will be trained as well.
The Tondiarpet school will get a new football ground of standards fit to conduct the popular 7s football tournaments that are popular in Chennai. All the schools will get toilets for children with disabilities and anti-skid flooring. The kindergarten area of the schools would be separate with a covered play area with new equipment. All schools will have a new compound gate with an approved arch design. The school in Anna Nagar zone will also get a volleyball court.
Corporation officials said this is part of their effort to ensure that the civic bodyrun schools, which in common consciousness are looked down upon, has a change of image. Performance of students in GCC schools in Class X and XII board examinations has been excellent in the past many years. With enrolment going up during the pandemic, GCC wants to ensure high-quality education service to the citizens free of cost, officials said.
