State govt’s educational channel to have 17 programmes featuring students, teachers

Coimbatore: The school education department has finalized a total of 17 programmes for its education channel. Each episode of the programmes would be shot featuring government school students and teachers across the state.
The department in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation limited (TACTV) had planned the satellite channel, which would be available on number 200.

Initially, the department has decided to telecast lessons based on the academic syllabus for a few months produced by government school teachers. But, the department has planned to improve the quality and decided to produce special programmes. Each of these programmes is scheduled for half an hour slot starting from 5.15am. The programmes would be aired twice a day.

“The programmes are designed in such a way that they would be informative and inspiring for both students and the public. We have also planned to telecast achievements of government school students and teachers, apart from telecasting special features of government schools as well as information about each district,” said an official involved in the project.

Programmes related to subjects, on award winning government schools and teachers, interviews of talented students, moral stories, and videos on traditional games, Tirukural as well as physical exercise would be broadcasted, the official added.

A total of 50 teachers from across the state are appointed as coordinators to produce the programmes. Each district has one to three coordinators based on its population, the official said. So far, only a few districts, including Coimbatore and Chennai, have started shooting videos.

“Each district is allotted a topic, and the script for the programme is ready in most of the districts. A four-day shooting schedule would begin from Friday. At least a month packages would be in our hand before the channel is launched. We are planning to launch the channel within a month,” the official said.

A teacher involved in the project said the department has been planning to train coordinators on how to use cameras. “Each district would be given a camera at the earliest.”

A total of Rs 1.35 crore was allotted to procure and install equipment, and to connect the studio, which is to function from the 8th floor of the Anna centenary library in Chennai, and the TACTV station through fiber cable, the teacher said.