The According to a Corporation official, training for games like cricket, football and others would be given under the CITIIS initiative, which is part of the Smart City mission. “Under the CITIIS initiative, we have won around Rs 85 crore to improve the schools run by the Corporation.

Apart from improving physical infrastructure, the plan is to hone the skills of students,” the official said.

Under the project, the civic body will transform the selected schools with better infrastructure, digital innovations, pedagogical innovation, capacity building and extra-curricular and soft schooling. As of now, Corporation schools do not have required facilities for more students to participate and win sports meets. The civic body has also decided to include private partnership in running the schools by allowing corporate social funds, mentorship by involving non-governmental organisations. The civic body had already commenced the process to prepare a detailed project report to upgrade 46 Corporation schools in 28 campuses under project and works are ongoing to prepare detailed project reports for the upgradation.

Meanwhile, the civic body has already shortlisted two campuses in Nesapakkam and Cemetery Road, whereas designs are ready for the Kottur campus.

When asked whether the civic body would appoint coaches on a permanent basis to train the students, a civic body official clarified that the appointments would be on a need basis and coaching would be for the students belonging to the 46 schools initially. “Due to some constraints, we cannot appoint cricket coaches or football coaches for all the schools. If there are more students interested to play football in a particular school, then we will appoint a coach at that particular school. Coaching facilities will be expanded to other schools over time,” he added.

Even though the civic body would upgrade physical infrastructure and coaching facilities at the selected schools, capacity building training workshops are being conducted for all teachers of the Corporation schools. Recently, a training session under the CITIIS was held for teachers of mathematics. Under the project, the civic body would convert the classrooms in the selected schools as smart classes, where students could learn by watching educational video clips.