GCC schools grapple with lack of classrooms, basic infrastructure, teachers

Councillors say many schools run by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) continue to function without adequate number of classrooms and teachers, and lack of basic infrastructure.

“For want of classrooms, teachers at the primary school in Tiruvottiyur conduct classes in a nearby community hall, which is about 500 metres away every day. Requests for more classrooms were made at council meetings for over two years, but no action has been taken,” said AIADMK Councillor K. Karthik.

As on June 2, the GCC schools recorded 16,497 new admissions from Classes I to XII for the academic year 2025-2026. The admission process will continue till September, and the new admission count is expected to exceed last year’s (32,004), according to Education Department officials.

Though the civic body manages 417 schools across the city, it has only 3,146 teachers and 316 headmasters or headmistresses, according to data from the GCC. As of June 2025, 1,152 teaching and administrative posts remain vacant.

AIADMK Councillor J. John said the GCC school in Korattur was upgraded to a higher secondary school a decade ago, yet it lacks many facilities. The school has six labs for physics, chemistry and computer, but four of these are planned to be used as classrooms.

“Sometimes, two different classes are held in the same room with a wooden partition in between, owing to lack of space,” he said. Further, there is no seating facility for middle and primary classes, forcing children to sit on the floor, he said.

He added that seven of the twelve vacancies at the school were filled through the School Management Committee; however, teachers for Tamil and Physical Training had not been appointed.

“Regional Deputy Commissioner Praveen Kumar K.J. visited the school and directed local authorities to accelerate the construction of new classrooms. Unfortunately, only an estimate is currently being prepared,” he said.

MDMK Councillor S. Jeevan said the corporation high school in Kannagi Nagar needed three Tamil teachers, five science teachers, one mathematics teacher, three history teachers, a lab technician for computer classes, and a permanent physical education teacher.

DMK Councillor A. Murugesan, during the Council meeting on June 30, flagged the lack of benches in the GCC Primary School. Mayor R. Priya said classrooms in need of furniture would be identified, and the issue addressed.

P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), said GCC schools remained the only accessible option for children of daily wage workers. “Chennai Schools lack permanent sanitation workers, English language and physical education teachers, and watchmen, forcing students to opt for private schools. This issue persists despite the GCC having sufficient funds. Moreover, there is a lack of planning and proper consultation with stakeholders before implementation of schemes,” he said.

He added that failure to provide basic amenities could amount to violation of Article 21 (Right to Life) and Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution, and called for immediate corrective measures through public consultation.

Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar said that ₹40 crore had been allocated to improve school infrastructure. Regarding teacher vacancies, he said State authorities had been notified of the need for additional teachers, and the Teacher Recruitment Board was expected to deploy more staff by this month-end. He also said that benches and tables had been ordered from the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited. In case of urgency, the councillors could use the ward development fund to acquire the furniture themselves, he said.