SFI starts pedalling for govt schools’ growth

Coimbatore: A total of 52 members of Students Federation of India (SFI) would pedal all the way to Trichy from the city to highlight the importance of developing government schools by providing them better infrastructure.
The five-day bicycle rally was flagged off by Mylswamy Annadurai, former ISRO scientist and vice-president of Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, from Gandhipuram on Saturday.
Pointing out that the state was keen on handing over government schools to private firms in the name of adoptions, M Dinesh, a district representative of the SFI, said, “School education department officials have openly called on private companies to adopt government schools. This is the first step towards privatising them.”
The SFI members said there were talks about shutting down government schools due to low strength. “This would directly affect the underprivileged and rural students. We want the state to develop infrastructure in government schools and provide more thrust on extra-curricular activities such as sports,” Dinesh said.
Similar rallies were taken out from Chennai, Kanyakumari and Cuddalore as well on Saturday. It would converge in Trichy for a conference on May 31.
While flagging off the rally from the city Mylswamy Annadurai said 90% of his fellow scientists had studied in government schools. “We, the government school students, have succeeded in sending a satellite to Mars. Government schools helped us win by crossing several barriers. Parents have to be encouraged to put their children in government schools. Steps should be taken to increase student enrolment in government schools.”
Speaking at the event, V P Sanu, SFI national president, said the state was mulling to close 3,500 government schools, citing student shortage as the reason. “Many schools even lack toilet facilities. SFI has started this cycle rally to save the government schools in Tamil Nadu. We will continue this in the next level of demonstrations.”