TN achieves 100% primary enrollment, says Rosaiah

Tamil Nadu Governor Dr K. Rosaiah on Thursday released the Digital Format of the State of the World Children's 2016 Report organized by UNICEF at Raj Bhavan in Chennai. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said Tamil Nadu was one of the progressive States in the country with above 80 per cent literacy and 100 per cent enrollment in primary education. It has a child population of more than 7 million, who are in the age group of 0-6 years. “Today it is a matter of pride that Tamil Nadu has reached an exemplary position in achieving 100% enrollment at the primary school level. We need to strive harder to attain and sustain higher level of quality in the primary schools. The transition to secondary and higher secondary education poses a challenge”, he added. The Governor appealed to the educational institutions, teachers, Education Department officials, voluntary organizations and the NGOs to join hands to minimize school and college dropout rate and to ensure that every school pass-out takes to higher education. “Every child should be provided with safe, secured and healthy childhood, quality education and prosperous adulthood. Education provides one with knowledge and skills to succeed in life. It brings about socio-economic development, reduces poverty and improves health and hygiene. It must begin with early childhood development. Providing learning opportunities to all children, especially to the most disadvantaged ones is imperative. "We are a nation with the largest number of children. They are our nation’s greatest asset and ensuring them good education, quality health care is prime agenda of both the Central and State Governments”, Rosaiah said. The Governor also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ call aims at generating awareness and improving the status of women. It is aimed at saving and educating girl children. It is worrying to note that globally in the year 2015 alone, an estimated 5.9 million children died due to various diseases before reaching the age of five. Most of these deaths could have been prevented if treated on time. The World Health Organization has projected that approximately 2,50,000 additional deaths will occur annually through 2030 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress attributable to climate change. UNICEF’s mission was to bring about sustainable progress for today’s children and future generations. It focuses on equity by giving every child a fair chance and reaching the most marginalized children for meeting the 2030 Goals on child health and wellbeing. The state of the World’s Children 2016 which has been released by UNICEF calls for an urgent action to build a better world for the children from the weaker sections of the society. It aims at reaching every child, providing them with equal opportunity, promoting equity so as to create a fair chance for all children to build their future. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s initiative to provide quality healthcare, access to education, healthcare to the poor and needy, especially to children and women, deserve appreciation, he said. Rosaiah conveyed warm felicitations to Job Zachariah, Chief, UNICEF State Office for Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Officers and Staff of UNICEF and to all those who are associated with UNICEF, a release from Chennai said.