Ahead of the reopening of schools for the 2026–27 academic year, the School Education Department has begun dispatching textbooks and free welfare scheme materials to government, aided and self-financing high and higher secondary schools across the district here on Thursday (May 14, 2026).

A release from the Chief Education Officer E. Manvizhi said the materials are being supplied to 113 government and municipal higher secondary schools, 77 government and municipal high schools, 17 aided higher secondary schools, 13 aided high schools, 10 self-financing higher secondary schools and four self-financing high schools.

The welfare materials include free textbooks for students from Classes VI to XII, notebooks for students from Classes VI to X and free uniforms for students studying in Classes VI to VIII. School bags, footwear and socks are also being distributed to eligible students.

For students in hill areas, special items such as ankle boots, raincoats and sweaters are being provided. Geometry boxes for newly admitted students in Classes VI and IX, and geography maps for new admissions in Classes VI to X are also part of the distribution.

The dispatch of materials began on Thursday from the Railway Colony Municipal Higher Secondary School and the Government Higher Secondary School at Bungalowpudur near Gobichettipalayam, from where they are being sent directly to schools.

The release said a total of 93,889 students in the district would benefit from the welfare schemes during the academic year. Of them, 74,120 students are studying in government and municipal schools, 18,126 in aided schools and 1,643 in self-financing schools.