monika“Social justice is not just about removing barriers—it is about building bridges to opportunity.”
In a world where the boundaries of learning extend far beyond classrooms, travel is no longer a luxury—it is an educational necessity. For students, especially those from government schools and underrepresented communities, travel offers transformative experiences that textbooks alone cannot provide. It fosters curiosity, expands horizons, challenges stereotypes, and strengthens real-world understanding.
Against this backdrop, Tamil Nadu’s visionary initiative to send government school students on international educational tours stands as a beacon of inclusive and progressive governance. At a time when the idea of government school students boarding a flight was once considered far-fetched, the Tamil Nadu government has made it a reality—fuelled by the values of equality, empowerment, and educational justice.
Why Travel Matters in Education
Traditional education often limits learning to curriculum-bound concepts. Travel brings those concepts alive—through real-life experiences of history, science, culture, and innovation.
Exploring new countries helps young minds develop empathy, cultural understanding, and a global mindset—qualities crucial in today’s interconnected world.
Being in unfamiliar places enhances students’ adaptability, decision-making, and communication skills. These formative experiences foster self-assurance and resilience.
Visits to prestigious institutions, historical monuments, and tech centres can spark dreams of higher education, research, and leadership among students who may not otherwise envision such futures.
Why Governments Must Encourage Student Travel
While travel is often accessible to students in private education, government school students have been systematically left out. Educational tours level the playing field, providing them access to the same world of exposure and inspiration.
Students who travel abroad become cultural ambassadors. They present the face of an aspiring India—curious, confident, and capable—thus promoting soft diplomacy.
Experiential learning has been shown to increase engagement, retention, and the desire to learn. Students return more motivated, with richer contextual understanding and expanded ambitions.
Tamil Nadu’s Landmark Initiative: A Model Worth Emulating
Social Justice, Equality, and Inclusivity are the pillars of the Dravidian Model of governance. At a time when government schools are often stereotyped as spaces of underachievement and neglect, Tamil Nadu has boldly dismantled that narrative through consistent, equity-focused reforms.
With over 70 educational welfare schemes initiated in recent years—ranging from infrastructure development to nutrition, scholarships, and curriculum enrichment—the government has redefined what quality public education looks like.
Among these, the International Educational Tour Program is a flagship initiative that truly stands out
Milestones Achieved So Far
The Kalvi Suttrula initiative, launched in 2022–23 by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, was envisioned as a transformative programme to recognise and reward students not only for academic excellence but also for their talents in arts, literature, reading, science clubs, children’s cinema, and sports.
According to reports from the Tamil Nadu School Education Department (TNSED), over 325 government school students have already travelled abroad under this initiative, visiting countries including:
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Japan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- Germany
These international educational tours are thoughtfully curated to provide immersive learning experiences—ranging from interactive sessions with local students and educators to museum visits, cultural exchanges, and guided explorations of leading science and technology institutes.
What Makes This Program Unique?
Students from economically and socially marginalised backgrounds are prioritised, making the program a powerful vehicle for educational justice.
The entire cost is borne by the state. The selection is based on academic merit and interest, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Unlike luxury tourism, the tours are structured around visits to top educational institutions, science centres, museums, and historical sites.
Many students who travel abroad under this scheme are first-time flyers and first-generation learners. Their self-worth and confidence blossom with every moment of the journey.
A Vision for the Future
Tamil Nadu’s global education tours are not just travel opportunities—they represent a new educational ethos where every student, regardless of background, is given the right to dream globally and learn expansively. They reflect a society that believes education must not be defined by privilege, but by promise.
It is a bold model that other Indian states—and even nations—should learn from. When we invest in sending our students out into the world, we are not just shaping individuals; we are shaping the future of our society.
Let students see the world—so they can reimagine their place in it. And let governments stand not as gatekeepers, but as gateways to that world.
ARUVI