The Tamil Nadu government is urging businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to contribute to government schools through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ensuring transparency via the Namma School portal.
CSR Contributions and Transparency Measures
School education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, speaking on Wednesday, highlighted the state’s efforts to increase corporate and public involvement in improving school infrastructure and learning programmes. He emphasized the Namma School portal’s role in tracking fund utilization, addressing donor concerns about transparency.
The portal features:
- A virtual pavilion for each school, including YouTube live-streaming of activities and projects.
- A donor dashboard for tracking fund allocation and project progress.
- Real-time monitoring, allowing businesses to verify the impact of their contributions.
The initiative follows a conclave in Trichy (January 2024), where 31 companies pledged ₹141 crore to support government schools. Despite this, many potential donors remain hesitant, prompting the government to enhance transparency measures.
Scholarships and Alumni Engagement
At the event, Poyyamozhi distributed scholarships to 797 girls and accepted corporate-funded scholarships for 3,511 students for the 2024-25 academic year. He encouraged more organizations to support student welfare and school development.
Beyond corporate contributions, the education department is strengthening alumni engagement. The recently launched Palli Chaalaram web page, under the Namma School-Namma Ooru Palli initiative, connects government school alumni, enabling them to contribute to their alma mater. The portal provides details on:
- School status and development needs.
- Former teachers and alumni networks.
- Opportunities for alumni involvement in school improvement.
With these initiatives, the Tamil Nadu government aims to strengthen public-private collaboration in education, ensuring better learning environments and enhanced resources for students in government schools.
