COIMBATORE: Marching past teachers and fellow students with the white flag of House Paalai in his arms on Thursday, A Daniel Britto of class 8 at Corporation Middle School in Ramakrishnapuram felt both enthusiasm and responsibility. He was recently elected, through a draw of lots, as the captain of one of the four houses of Magizh Mutram -- the new house system introduced by the School Education Department.
Akin to Daniel, the students who had been recently elected to lead the houses at 1,210 government schools (from primary to higher secondary) in Coimbatore were sworn in as captains and vice-captains on Thursday. K Kannan, the headmaster of a government higher secondary school located in Arasur, has welcomed the new house system, saying it would help students learn good leadership skills during their school days.
“Assuming new house roles and responsibilities will encourage the students to lead their fellow schoolmates and houses sensibly. Then, they will try to do their best when they are at school. It would motivate everyone, leading to the creation of a good atmosphere,” he opined.
Speaking to TNIE, Britto said the houses have roles and responsibilities, such as punctuality, homework completion, school hygiene, etc. and that he would do his best at school. After a teacher explained Magizh Mutram’s roles and responsibilities, he said, he showed interest in becoming a house captain. Of the five students, I was selected as the captain of Paalai through a draw of lots, he said.
Sources said the school education department had allocated Rs 2 crore for implementing the new house system in October, as per which, students from classes 1 to 12 would be biannually assigned in one of the five houses -- Kurinji, Mullai, Marudham, Neidhal and Paalai. Points would be awarded for individual and team achievements for various activities and best houses would be honoured monthly by district-level officers of the school education department, sources added.