Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a number of welfare measures in the education sector today, including hi-tech labs in all government high and higher secondary schools. The announcements were made in the Assembly.

It would be 3,090 high schools that would get 10 computers each and 2,939 higher secondary schools 20 each, he said, adding that the government had allotted Rs 437.78 crore for this.

An amount of Rs 39.1 crore has been set aside for improving school infrastructure, he said.

Additional classrooms will be built in 43 government arts and science colleges and they will be called as ‘Puratchi Thalaivar MGR centenary buildings’. “For this purpose, Rs 105 crore has been allotted this year and work has begun. The remaining 105 crore will be allotted next year,” he said.

Also, 268 new branches (26 undergraduate, 75 PG and 133 Phd) will be introduced in colleges from 2017-18. As part of handling the subjects, 660 assistant professors would be appointed and the government would spend Rs 40.38 crore.

Meanwhile, Palaniswami said finger print readers will be provided in all rations shops across the State.

The solatium of Rs 4 lakh given to forest department officials would be raised to Rs 10 lakh, on par with that of police officials, he added.

School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan said wifi facilities would be provided in all the higher secondary schools which was expected to help student of Grades XI and XII.