M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, launched the ‘Pudhumai Pen’ scheme here on September 5, while his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal unveiled 26 schools of excellence and 15 model schools opened by the state government to replicate the schools established by his Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi.
Under the Moovalur Ramamritham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance or “Pudhumai Pen” scheme, girl students in state government schools from Class 5 to Class 12 would receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 until they completed their graduation or diploma.
Kejriwal, in his inaugural address said: “We might be belonging to different political parties, but there is so much good work that each government in each state is doing. It is extremely important that we learn from each other.”
Right of every child to have good and free education
He also said that it has to be the right of every child in the country to have a good and free education and it was the duty of each government to provide free education with high quality to the children.
The Delhi Chief Minister also stated that if all state governments implement programmes similar to those implemented by Tamil Nadu and Delhi, and with the support of the Central Government, all government schools in the country will be able to provide the highest quality education.
In his speech, Stalin emphasised the Dravidian movement’s reforms as well as the various schemes launched by the DMK governments for the welfare of women and children.
He also stated that 25 municipal schools in the state would be designated as Schools of Excellence in the first phase, at a cost of Rs 171 crore.
Stalin also stated that the classrooms in these Schools of Excellence would be upgraded and modernised, and that students would be encouraged to participate in art, literature, music, dance, and sports. He also encouraged students to continue their education beyond the completion of a single degree.
