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Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Coimbatore district hits ‘bottom line' in learning outcome survey
Coimbatore: The district has cut a sorry figure in the state-level survey to assess the learning outcomes among the govt and aided school students of Classes III, V and VIII - at 38th, Coimbatore was ranked last in the state. In the State Level Achievement Survey, 2025, conducted jointly by the State Planning Commission, Samagra Shiksha, State Council for Educational Research and Training, and the Directorate of School and Elementary Education, Kanyakumari topped the state with a pass percentage of 66.55, followed by Madurai (63.72) and Cuddalore (63.66). Coimbatore recorded an overall pass percentage of 48.24, below the state average in all subjects - Tamil, English, mathematics, environmental science, science and social science. Among the district's 15 revenue blocks, Thondamuthur fared the worst, with an average pass percentage of 40.34 across subjects. A primary school teacher, who did not wish to be named, said the survey was not like regular school exams. "The exam contained logical, higher-order thinking and application-based questions. Some students, especially those in Class III, needed explanations to understand them. They found it difficult to answer the questions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo They require practice to attempt such exams." He said the exam was conducted in a very strict manner in the district. "Final-year students of arts and engineering colleges supervised the test. Teachers were not allowed in the exam halls. We are unsure how strictly it was conducted in other districts." S Chandrasekar, Coimbatore zonal coordinator of Palli Kalvi Pathukappu Iyakkam, blamed the lack of monitoring in govt schools for the district's poor performance. "Earlier, Covid lockdowns were cited as a reason for the learning gap. But even after three years, the situation has not improved much." He said regular inspections should be conducted to assess classroom teaching, and special attention must be given to slow learners. "A district-level monitoring committee should be formed to review teaching methods and improvements." A Thangabasu, state vice-president, Tamil Nadu Primary School Teachers Federation, highlighted the acute shortage of teachers at the primary level. "Many retired teachers have not been replaced in the past 12 years. Several elementary and middle schools function with just one teacher, handling Classes I to V." He said Coimbatore was also the district that assigns the most teachers to booth level officer duties, which involve the job of voter list verification, conducting electoral camps and booth slip distribution. "When we complain, officials say the revenue department lacks adequate staff." According to him, teachers are burdened with non-teaching work, including uploading student data on the Education Management Information System portal, handling Aadhaar corrections, conducting camps and managing scholarship details. "These duties distract teachers from focusing on academics. The School Education Department should fill vacancies and free teachers from non-academic tasks to improve learning outcomes," Thangabasu said. When contacted, chief education officer R Balamurali said the teachers would be sensitised on the survey findings. "District Institute of Education and Training will provide training focused on improving learning outcomes. Continuous follow-ups will be done post-training, with attention at revenue block and school levels."
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
963cr granted for flood-control measures in Kolhapur & Sangli
Kolhapur: The Maharashtra Resilient Development Programme (MRDP), a World Bank-funded initiative for flood management in the Krishna-Bhima river basins, has received administrative approval of Rs 963 crore from the state revenue department, said Rajesh Kshirsagar, Shiv Sena MLA and executive president of the State Planning Commission. At a recent event in Ichalkaranji, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that MRDP tenders would be issued within a fortnight. Kshirsagar, who is also the vice-chairman of Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), announced on Sunday that the MRDP implementation would take place in two stages, with the latter phase focusing on redirecting floodwater to Marathwada and drought-affected regions. "The MRDP project took concrete shape when Eknath Shinde was the CM. The funding comprises 70% from the World Bank and 30% from state govt. The first phase, for which administrative approval has been given, includes improving drainage systems in municipal areas, increasing the depth and width of rivers and streams through the water resources department, desilting, and converting the automated gates of Radhanagari dam to manual operation," said Kshirsagar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo World Bank officials visited Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, and Sangli Miraj Kupwad municipal corporations, inspecting flood-prone areas and assessing preparedness measures. They also inspected the Radhanagari dam featuring automatic gates that operate at 100% capacity. "Currently, administrative approval has been granted for works worth approximately Rs 963 crore, including setting up drainage systems in municipal areas, appointing consultants, and establishing project management and technical consultancy units for the project implementation unit," said Kshirsagar. Kolhapur: The Maharashtra Resilient Development Programme (MRDP), a World Bank-funded initiative for flood management in the Krishna-Bhima river basins, has received administrative approval of Rs 963 crore from the state revenue department, said Rajesh Kshirsagar, Shiv Sena MLA and executive president of the State Planning Commission. At a recent event in Ichalkaranji, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that MRDP tenders would be issued within a fortnight. Kshirsagar, who is also the vice-chairman of Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), announced on Sunday that the MRDP implementation would take place in two stages, with the latter phase focusing on redirecting floodwater to Marathwada and drought-affected regions. "The MRDP project took concrete shape when Eknath Shinde was the CM. The funding comprises 70% from the World Bank and 30% from state govt. The first phase, for which administrative approval has been given, includes improving drainage systems in municipal areas, increasing the depth and width of rivers and streams through the water resources department, desilting, and converting the automated gates of Radhanagari dam to manual operation," said Kshirsagar. World Bank officials visited Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, and Sangli Miraj Kupwad municipal corporations, inspecting flood-prone areas and assessing preparedness measures. They also inspected the Radhanagari dam featuring automatic gates that operate at 100% capacity. "Currently, administrative approval has been granted for works worth approximately Rs 963 crore, including setting up drainage systems in municipal areas, appointing consultants, and establishing project management and technical consultancy units for the project implementation unit," said Kshirsagar.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu records negative growth rate in agriculture and allied activities
Even as Tamil Nadu is gearing up for the upcoming Kuruvai cultivation season, it has experienced a negative growth rate in agriculture and allied activities during 2024-25, for the first time in eight years. Last year, the growth rate in real terms was minus 0.09%, according to a perusal of the data of the Gross State Value Added by economic activity for Tamil Nadu (advance estimates for the States). Assessed at constant prices (base year: 2011-12), the data were published on the website of the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation two months ago. Ironically, it was during the year in question that the State had achieved a real economic growth rate of 9.69%, the highest for any State in the country, besides being the highest for Tamil Nadu in the past 10 years. YEAR VALUE** (₹ in lakh) GROWTH RATE (%) 2015-16 10091573 2.6 2016-17 9928662 -1.612 2017-18 11127061 12.07 2018-19 11849026 6.5 2019-20 12749166 7.6 2020-21 13321030 4.5 2021-22 14071150 5.6 2022-23 14423448 2.5 2023-24 14987009 3.9 2024-25 14972823 -0.09 Note: Drawn from the table of Gross State Value Added by economic activity for Tamil Nadu, as published on the website of Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation *Crops, livestock, forestry & logging, and fishing & aquaculture are covered **At constant (2011-12) prices Natural disasters The previous occasion of negative growth in agriculture and allied activities was during 2016-17, when the State registered minus 1.61%. It was then that Tamil Nadu was adversely hit by a spell of drought and the Vardah cyclone in December 2016. A document of the State Agriculture department for 2025-26 states that crop damage was caused in an area of 9.10 lakh acres due to natural disasters such as 'unseasonal heavy rain' in January 2025, Southwest Monsoon (June-September 2024), summer rain, and the Fengal cyclone in December during the Northeast Monsoon (October-December 2024). The State government had sanctioned an amount of ₹545.56 crore for extending input subsidy to 6.16 lakh farmers. An examination of the data on components of the agriculture and allied activity category — crops, livestock, forestry and logging, and fishing and aquaculture — would reveal that last year, there was a considerable fall in respect of crops, which had seen a growth rate of minus 5.93%. As a result, the overall growth figure of the category suffered. Ordinarily, the component of crops, on average, accounts for 40%, with livestock leading with over 50%. Last year, the figure of crops was 39%. As for crops, the growth rate was 9.5% in 2021-22 followed by 3.3% next year and 4.2% in 2023-24. Conscious of the challenges being faced by the farm sector, the inaugural Economic Survey, brought out by the State Planning Commission, talks of high dependence on monsoons, adverse impact of climate change, aging farming population, shrinking landholdings, and stagnant productivity. Apart from promoting climate-resilient agriculture, the Survey refers to the need for revision of food processing policy. As regards livestock, the authorities' prescription is to ensure prompt payment to farmers based on real-time testing of milk quality. Meanwhile, with two weeks to go for the completion of the water year 2024-25, the State has realised about 298.3 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) against the stipulation of 175.8 tmc ft, the excess being around 122 tmc ft. On Friday (May 16, 2025) morning, the water level of the Mettur dam, the lifeline of the Cauvery delta, stood at 108.18 ft (full level: 120 ft) with the storage being 75.85 tmc ft, against the capacity of 93.47 tmc ft.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. government lists measures undertaken for welfare of women
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) listed the initiatives it has undertaken for the welfare of women in the State. It mentioned schemes such as the 'Magalir Vidiyal Payanam Thittam', 'Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam', 'Puthumai Penn Thittam', and 'Thozhi Viduthigal Thittam', among others. Since Chief Minister M.K. Stalin assumed office in 2021, he has introduced numerous revolutionary schemes to promote the upliftment of women, significantly improving their position in society, an official release stated. The Tamil Nadu State Women Policy 2024 was launched, paving the way for women's rights, it added. The 'Magalir Vidiyal Payanam Thittam' was among the first five orders issued by the Chief Minister, through which women, persons with disabilities, and transgender persons were able to travel free of cost. So far, 682.02 crore free rides have been availed through this scheme, the government said. While transgender persons have made 36.89 lakh journeys, persons with disabilities have undertaken 3.78 crore journeys. Due to this scheme, women were able to save up to ₹888 per month, the release stated. So far, 1.15 crore women have been receiving ₹1,000 per month directly into their bank accounts under the 'Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai'. 'The government is taking steps to extend this benefit to all eligible women, who have not received it yet,' it said. To help girls studying in Classes 6 to 12 in government and government-aided schools pursue higher education without hindrance, a monthly aid is being provided to them under the 'Pudhumai Penn Thittam'. 'Through direct bank transfer, 4.95 lakh students have received this assistance and have expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister. According to the State Planning Commission's report, due to this scheme, the number of girls transitioning from school to college has increased by 34%,' the release said. As of now, 13 'Thozhi Viduthigal Thittam' for Working Women with 1,303 beds were operational, with 14 more being established. In Salem, Thanjavur, Perambalur, Vellore, Villupuram, Tirunelveli, and Adyar (Chennai), seven hostels with 476 beds have been renovated at a cost of ₹4.21 crore, it said. Increased loan limit for women in self-help groups, 40% reservation for women in government jobs, increase in maternity leave, Tamil Nadu Startup Seed Grant Fund, and reservation for women in local bodies were among the initiatives the State government has undertaken for the welfare of women, it said.
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu Class 8 kids caught in Math, Science bind: Survey
CHENNAI: A first-of-its-kind State-Level Achievement Survey that tested 9,80,341 students in Classes 3, 5 and 8 has found that the average mark scored by Class 8 students in Mathematics and Science barely crossed 40. The survey, jointly conducted by the State Planning Commission, Samagra Shiksha, SCERT, and the Directorates of School Education and Elementary Education, covered 66% of students enrolled in Classes 3,5 and 8 in all 45,924 government and government-aided schools across the state. The primary school students of Tamil Nadu, however, have shown improvement in Tamil language skills, the survey showed. Compared to the National Achievement Survey (NAS) of 2011, the average scores of students in all subjects in these classes have gone up, except in Mathematics in Class 3, where the score declined from 57% to 54%. As per the report's district-wise performance data, Kanniyakumari, Cuddalore, Madurai, Tenkasi and Sivagangai were the top-performing districts. Nilgiris, Erode, Chengalpattu, Chennai and Coimbatore performed poorly. Many of the poorly-performing districts are located in North and West Tamil Nadu (except Tiruvarur in the East and Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli in South Tamil Nadu).
