Chennai: The school education department was allocated ₹44,527 crore for 2026-27, which will go towards clean campuses, modernisation of govt residential schools, and a revamped curriculum focusing on AI & robotics, and anti-drug clubs.Finance minister Marie Wilson said the focus was to ensure a clean learning environment. “A ‘Super Clean Super Campus’ scheme will be rolled out for ₹139 crore across TN. As many as 10,000 govt schools will get upgraded water and toilet facilities and 24-hour security in phase one,” he said.Govt will also launch ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Schools of Excellence’ for Classes IX-XII students at a cost of ₹125 crore. At these modern residential institutions, food, boarding, textbooks and uniforms will be provided free of cost.Similar centres of excellence exist in the districts of Salem, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai and Chennai (Saidapet). School education secretary B Chandra Mohan said more such centres will be opened in multiple districts. “Students from remote areas will be able to study here without travelling far,” the official added.A ‘Palli Pirivu Thittam’ will be introduced at a cost of ₹2,132 crore, covering 3,734 schools to modernise govt schools and upgrade existing infrastructure. “Modernisation will focus on students, teachers and classrooms. Multigrade classrooms will become mono-grade (one teacher per grade), classrooms lacking smartboards will get a digital push and so on. All amenities a school requires will be assessed and improved,” Chandra Mohan said.The govt will also spend ₹25 crore to revamp the school curriculum and extend the TN Spark scheme — which teaches the basics of AI and digital education in govt schools — to 2,200 more schools. At present, TN Spark is being implemented in 5,000 govt schools across the state.
