Manarkeni App: CM Stalin’s push to revolutionise school curriculum

The transformation of the education sector under the Dravidian model of government is exponential. Apart from books, practical learning and practical knowledge was given more magnitude. CM Stalin in a way of walking the talk introduced many schemes such as the midday meal scheme, Pudhumai Penn scheme etc. and established the fact that education is a basic right of everyone.

In an effort to digitalise the school curriculum in this technology-driven world, CM Stalin has introduced an application called "Manarkeni" and dedicated it to students. CM Stalin said, "Education is a hard-earned right which is significant for the development of world knowledge, rational thinking etc. Education is the only treasure in life which cannot be stolen." Indian educationist and activist Vasanthi Devi said, "Education is a public good which should be made accessible and affordable to all. The objective of the Manarkeni application is to democratise the opportunity for learning."

Manarkeni will serve as one of the aids that teachers employ to simplify subjects for students. The speciality of the app is that it contains videos explaining complex topics in subjects like physics, chemistry etc. The duration of the videos in the app ranges from 8 to 40 minutes. The videos in the app are made interesting with aids like brain teasers. And also has videos for civil service aspirants and other competitive exams.

The significance of the app lies in its usage for the understanding of basics. For instance, a 12th-standard student initially will find it difficult to understand the advanced portions taught in the class. To overcome this issue, the app contains videos of the basics taught in class 6th to 11th which can be used by the student to build his/her foundation again. "The app is made with Related Basic Concepts for the benefit of students", said educationist Madasamy.

The Manarkeni app is not a platform that is blindly overloaded with all education-related videos. It is a platform that contains carefully selected videos of subjects that need detailed explanations, and it will be updated regularly. The app has the option of free download of videos which can be saved on laptops by students for revision later. The rating feature on the app will also help the developers to modify and better the multiple features. Manarkeni is not exclusively for students, teachers can also use it to enhance their skills.

The Manarkeni app was released in Selaiyur Tambaram Higher Secondary School. Education Minister Anbil Mahesh tweeted, "Tamil Nadu is a pioneer state in the country for its efforts in digitising education in the times of technological development." The Manarkeni app was released by Ibrahim Thiaw, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. "I am visiting Tamil Nadu and attending a meeting in Chennai for the 1st time. I feel elated that the app can be accessed from any corner of the world and it is free of charge. The Tamil Nadu government has done a commendable job in providing information free of cost", said Ibrahim.

Clearly, data is health in the digital world.