Admissions in govt primary schools surge in Madurai, Trichy

Madurai/Trichy: With admissions underway in government primary schools across Tamil Nadu since March 1, student enrolments in Classes I to V are steadily rising in Madurai and Trichy districts. With the drive continuing until June, officials anticipate a sharp increase in government school admissions this academic year, buoyed by improved infrastructure and welfare schemes.
In Madurai district, 5,380 new admissions have been recorded for Classes I to V as of April 11, including 4,479 in Class I alone. "Last year, we had over 9,500 new admissions. This year, we're on track to cross 10,000, thanks to initiatives like the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme and upgraded school facilities," said an education official.
Trichy and Musiri educational districts have collectively recorded over 7,500 new admissions as of April 15, with Class I accounting for over 95% of the enrolments. Trichy district saw around 4,500 admissions, while Musiri recorded nearly 3,000. "These two districts have logged the highest admission rates so far. In the last 15 days alone, 2,000 more students enrolled," said an official.
Schools with added features like smart classrooms, new buildings, and clean toilets are attracting more parents. In Madurai's Panchayat Union Primary School, Y Othakadai, the strength has risen to 380 students. "We introduced LKG and UKG in 2022–23 with private teachers, which helped boost Class I admissions. Yoga, karate, and silambam classes also draw students," a teacher said.
In Mannaparai, admissions have reached 672, with local officials optimistic about surpassing last year's figure of 1,300. "The response has been encouraging, thanks to active outreach by headmasters and education staff," said Mannaparai BEO I Jegannathan.
However, a notable trend is emerging in Trichy. The rural areas are seeing lower enrolment in English-medium sections, while urban areas, despite fewer overall admissions, show a steady preference for English medium. In Trichy urban, 163 of 283 new students have opted for English medium. This may be due to the wider availability of English-medium and aided schools in city limits, officials said.