Puducherry: Puducherry has embarked on a new education initiative by launching the 'Smart School' project where the focus will be on quality and classrooms in select government schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure.

The union territory has allocated Rs.30 million to a pilot project in Class I in 80 government schools. The programme was launched on Friday by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy who opened the first Smart School at Pettichettipet.

"We want to give the best education to our students at the foundation level. Students with good primary education will perform better subsequently," said Puducherry Education Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan.

The programme will follow NCERT guidelines and use teaching aids like flash cards. Great emphasis will be placed on language skills and spoken English will be taught from Class I, along with Tamil and French in the former French colony.

The programme will be expanded to all government schools in Puducherry as the implementation proceeds, the minister said.

These smart classrooms will have modern infrastructure like new furniture and study aids and students will follow a smart dress code.

The programme will be expanded to all government schools in Puducherry as the implementation proceeds, the minister said. The government has also allocated Rs.20 million for new furniture in all schools.

"Though there is no shortage of buildings, there is a shortage of furniture and in many schools children have to sit on the floor," Shahjahan said.

Each student of Class VI to XII will be given a Rs.250 stipend to buy stationery, which will cost the exchequer Rs.35 million.

"Private schools take in only those children who study well, but government schools take in all children and our teachers make everyone study," Chief Minister Rangasamy pointed out on the occasion. IANS