Primary

Most families ensure that their children have access to quality primary education. Although primary education centres are part of the schools, the city has several play schools for toddlers.

The kindergarten and play schools usually focus on fun activities and are a riot of colours. Many primary schools follow conventional syllabi of learning and there are a growing number of schools that impart Montessori and play-way methods.

Primary education in the rural areas is usually run by the government. Baalwadi and Aanganwadi day care centres and provide a full mid-day meal for the children.

Several religious, missionary, social organisations and corporate houses have adopted rural primary centres and generously contribute to the running of the schools.

Coimbatore has more than 25 matriculation schools and over 150 higher secondary schools, both co-educational and single gender. A flurry of blues, greys, whites, khakis and checked school uniforms are seen on the streets of the city all the year round.

The academic year begins in June every year and ends in March with a two month break from learning. Academics play a very important role in the school curriculum and extra curricular activities are encouraged in most.

Primary education and schooling

The following table represents Coimbatore’s strengths in primary education. The main medium for

Sl No	Category	No of Institutions	Strength
1	Pre primary nursery schools	585	38523
2	Primary schools	1459	220819
3	Middle schools	229	127819
4	High schools	136	68249
5	Higher secondary schools	132	168673
6	Central schools	3	2873
7	Matriculation / Hr sec schools	276	155689
8	Anglo Indian school	2	135
	Total	2822	782780

Source: Department of Economic and StatisticsSource: Department of Economic and Statistics

‘Conclave on School Excellence' organised by CII at Coimbatore - Programme