The Tamil Nadu Budget 2022-23 was presented by Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan. This was the first full-fledged budget presented by the DMK Government headed by the Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The budget had a lot in it for the education sector. Compared to the Tamil Nadu budget 2021-22, this year an additional Rs. 2,714 crores have been allocated for the School Education Department.
Mr. Ramana Prasad, who is a globally renowned entrepreneur, chairman of AI School of India, and a prominent educationist is all in support of a higher allocation of budget for the education sector in Tamil Nadu.
He mentions that an increase in budget allocation and the schemes proposed by the Tamil Nadu Government will improve the quality of education and encourage more students to pursue Higher Education in top institutions in the Country.
The budget had a lot in it for the education sector. Compared to the Tamil Nadu budget 2021-22, this year an additional Rs. 2,714 crores have been allocated for the School Education Department.
Some key highlights of the budget for education, schools, colleges, universities, and students were are follows:
- Rs. 36,895 crores allocated for the school education department.
- Launch of the Perasiriyar Anbazhagan School Development scheme to modernize the state-run schools, including Adi Dravidar, Tribal, and Kallar Reclamation School at a cost of Rs. 7,000 crores in the next five years.
- Continuation of the ‘Ilam Thedi Kalvi’ program (education at doorsteps) in the next year, keeping in mind the loss of education and learning in the past two years due to the pandemic.
- Strengthening of infrastructure in government schools, construction of 18,000 new classrooms, smart classrooms in primary schools, and state-of-the-art computer labs will be set up under Perasiriyar Anbazhagan School Development scheme.
- The work of infrastructure development would be undertaken at a cost of Rs. 1,300 crores in the coming financial year.
- Establishment of model schools in 15 districts in the coming financial year. An allocation of Rs. 125 crores was made for this.
- Allocation of Rs. 250 crores in this budget to boost the infrastructure in Government Colleges.
- Implementation of a special scheme over the next five years to build new classrooms, laboratories, hostels, and smart classrooms in Government Colleges and polytechnic institutions. Total cost for this would be Rs. 1,000 crores.
- Financial aid of Rs. 1,000 per month to be provided to girl students for higher education.
- Tamil Nadu will bear the entire cost of undergraduate education of Government School students who aspire to join higher education institutions like IIT, AIIMS, IISc, and others.
- Development of knowledge city in Tamil Nadu through international collaboration. The knowledge city will have branches of globally recognized and renowned universities along with skill-based training centres, research and development hubs, and knowledge-based enterprises.
He mentions that an increase in budget allocation and the schemes proposed by the Tamil Nadu Government will improve the quality of education and encourage more students to pursue Higher Education in top institutions in the Country.
Strengthening of infrastructure in government schools, construction of 18,000 new classrooms, smart classrooms in primary schools, and state-of-the-art computer labs will be set up under Perasiriyar Anbazhagan School Development scheme. STEM & Artificial Intelligence led innovation is going to pick up in a big way, especially with the focus seen in Budget 2022.