Sources in the School Education Department told The Hindu here on Sunday that the Tamil Nadu government had already submitted a ‘perspective plan’ on secondary education to the Human Resource Development Ministry.

Draft particulars of the new scheme had been placed before the Union Cabinet. The scheme was aimed at strengthening secondary education network in States.

Known as ‘Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan,’ the scheme would focus on Standards IX and X. Funds for its implementation would be shared by the Centre and State governments, according to officials.

Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for School Education, said he had information that the plan for universal secondary education had already been placed before the Union Cabinet.

“I came to know from the Union Finance Minister and the Union Human Resource Development Minister that the Cabinet would take it up soon for approval,” he said.

According to him, Tamil Nadu is the first State to have prepared and submitted both annual plan/perspective plan for secondary education and “we have also requested (the Centre) to deal with Tamil Nadu on a priority basis as it is ready with an action plan.”