Chennai: Despite recent strides in digital integration, many government schools in Chennai face basic infrastructure deficiencies, according to a recent survey conducted through the Education Management Information System (EMIS).

Out of the 37,000 government schools under the Tamil Nadu Government's purview, only 20,000 schools have been equipped with internet connectivity through the BSNL network.

Plans are underway to introduce advanced technology laboratories and smart classrooms to enhance educational delivery.

However, the EMIS survey highlights alarming gaps in basic amenities such as clean drinking water, adequate toilets, functional science laboratories, libraries, and necessary classroom and office spaces. Many schools also lack playgrounds, essential for students' holistic development.

"Accurate data collection through EMIS is crucial to securing government funding needed to address these infrastructure gaps," emphasized a school education official.

In response to these findings, the Tamil Nadu government has initiated a mandate for all school headmasters to register their schools' infrastructure needs on the EMIS platform. This process aims to facilitate government's right intervention to improve educational environments and outcomes of public schools.