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Tamil Nadu puts cap on KG admissions in schools 

Class Size Limited To 120 Pupils 

M Ramya TNN 

Chennai: The state government has decided to put a cap on kindergarten admissions in matriculation schools by restricting intake to 120 students across four sections,regardless of the institutions size.
The decision was announced through a circular from the directorate of matriculation schools,which oversees more than 5,000 schools.It will be applicable from academic year 2014-15,for which admissions will begin this month.CBSE and ICSE schools are exempted from the rule,intended to keep classroom strength down to a manageable number.
Directions from courts in the wake of the Kumbakonam fire tragedy played a role in prompting the administration to enforce a stringent safety policy.Some schools have more than 12 sections.They say they have 250 teachers to manage the students.But when there is an emergency,there could even be loss of life.Its not a risk we can take, said an official in the department of school education.
Under the new rules,schools with special permission can admit up to 150 students in five sections.However,25% of the intake will be reserved for students from poor socio-economic backgrounds under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
The new rules are likely to be opposed by private institutions though.Over the years,they have hiked intake considerably to meet the demands of a growing population.

THE BIG CUT 

In its bid to increase safety in schools,the directorate of matriculation is pushing for fewer students in LKG 

DECISION 

Matriculation schools can admit only 120 students in LKG from 2014-15 150 students can be admitted with special permission 

IMPACT 

Smaller,safer schools Higher demand for seats Could bring back screening during admission,banned under RTE Act Could result in a rise in capitation fee 

Times View 


The focus on childrens safety in schools is much needed,but to apply the one-size-fits-all rule smacks of ignorance.One can agree with the formula smaller the class,safer the children;that doesnt necessarily mean big schools are unsafe.Some do violate rules on infrastructure and teacher-student ratio,but there are many with adequate facilities to accommodate and care for the students they admit.The government can and must fix the intake,but that must be through an assessment of the facilities available in each school,not by way of a general decree applicable to all.Moreover,such an order may deny lakhs of children access to quality education.

BIG TEMPLE TO GET A CAR 

After Over 2 Centuries Without A Car,Craftsmen Now Work In Thanjavur To Build A Chariot For Lord Brihadeeswara 

Harish Murali | TNN 


The Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur is all set to get a wooden car after a gap of about twocenturies.Workon the newcar hasbegun after the state government allocated Rs 50 lakh for the project.
Artisans are busy at work at two locations near the temple.Nalinasamy R,an artisan,says that the entire team has been camping at the Big Temple for the past two months.Every time we begin building a temple car,we also follow a strict vegetarian diet, he says.
Illupai (mahua wood) and teak wood sourced from Perambalur district are being used to fashion the car.Illuppai is very durable and most of the temple cars in the country are said to be made of this wood, says Varadarajan,sthapathi from Arumbavur in Perambalur district.Varadarajan is heading the team of 15 artisans who are involved in chiselling the bhoothapar (base ) of the car.He has designed 32 temple cars so far.
About 1,165 cubic ft of wood and 1.5 tonnes of iron will be used.The six-foot tall iron wheels will be built by BHEL-T richy.The entire structure will be about 17-foot 
tall and have a base area where the idol,about 
12 ft,will be kept during processions, says 
Sivagajendiran S,Varadarajans brother.
The car is estimated to weigh at least 52 tonnes.At least 10,000 people will be required to pull it.It will have atleast 200designs and 225sculptures.Thesewillinclude sculptures of Meenakshi Sundareshwarar,all forms of Shiva,63 nyanmars,Tiruvannika,Parvathi with Ganesha on her lap,Lord Muruga,Gajasamharar and Dakshinamoorthy,saysV aradarajan,a third-generation car maker.He belongs to the association consisting of 40 members that makes temple cars at Perambalur.He claims that theirs is the only association in the state that has taken up the designing of temple cars.
This particular project is special to Varadarajan as theThanjavur big templeisfamoustheworldover.Once all the chiselling is completed it will assembled in the nearby temple land.All the designs are done manually, he says.
A tin-roof shed is now being built to house the car.
The project is expected to be completed in another seven months and plans are to roll it out during the next Chithirai festival at the temple.