In a significant push towards modernizing public education, students at Elango Corporation Higher Secondary School in Madurai are poised for a technological leap. By the end of this month, the school will inaugurate a state-of-the-art Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory, a project fueled by a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund of nearly ₹1 crore from a private company.
Bridging the Educational Divide with Immersive Tech
A senior corporation education official explained that the core mission is to narrow the technological gap between corporation schools and private institutions. By exposing students to cutting-edge technology, the initiative seeks to level the playing field. "We observe that students of classes 6, 7 and 8 are particularly enthusiastic. It is an age where curiosity can shape their interests in the long run," the official stated. To ensure inclusivity, students from these grades across various corporation schools will be brought to the AR/VR space in rotation using a recently acquired school bus, also funded through CSR.
Inside the AR/VR Learning Experience
The lab is being constructed by remodeling an existing classroom, where interior work is complete. Final touches, including the installation of air conditioning and projectors, are underway. The facility will feature individual cubicle-like units where students can stand and immerse themselves in lessons. At one time, 30 students can participate in a session using VR headsets.
The educational content is meticulously tailored to the Tamil Nadu state syllabus, which has been fed into the system and will be displayed in two languages, including Tamil. This, officials believe, will help students grasp complex concepts in subjects like physics and chemistry with greater clarity. While the specific subjects to be covered are still being finalized and may vary by class, the focus is on creating hyper-real, close-up experiences of educational elements.
Teacher Training and Broader Impact
Recognizing that technology is only as good as its implementation, the corporation will provide specialized training for teachers. "Since the headsets work like headphones, teachers will be trained for this and they will be assigned for the AR/VR lab. They will undertake the activities," the official clarified. A comprehensive timetable is being drafted to manage the rotation of students from different schools.
Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan highlighted the strategic use of the lab, noting plans to bring underperforming students from other classes to use the facility for better understanding difficult topics. School Headmistress Uma Maheswari expressed optimism about the project's long-term benefits, stating, "These different types of initiatives will create keen interest among students, even improve attendance in the long run... It will truly be an enriching experience for them."
This pioneering project in Madurai represents a concrete step towards integrating immersive digital tools into mainstream public education, aiming to spark curiosity and deepen understanding for thousands of young learners.
