C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Underprivileged and poor students in the 20 government schools in remote areas of Villupuram district are slowly getting a new lease of life.
The performance of the 20 schools, having a pass percentage less than 50 per cent, was boosted under the school improvement scheme started by the state government under which a private firm can adopt the schools run by the panchayat or municipality or corporation.
Adopted by Chennai-based J K Foundation, the schools underwent rapid changes. And it could be seen in the results. “The pass percentage doubled in the schools from a mere 36 per cent to 72 per cent,” says Jayakrishnan, managing director of J K Group of companies.
And the students bear testimony to the fact. “We hardly had any staff. During the extra classes, we never got any snacks. Basic infrastructure was lacking. But now if a teacher is not present for a day, we immediately get a new teacher,” says Sandhya, who secured first rank in Markannam Higher secondary school in the XII standard exams.
Currently, an engineering college student of Satyabhama College, Sandhya, whose father was a lorry driver, wants to emulate what Jayakrishnan did to her school in Alapakkam village in Markannam. “When I grow up, I will also provide free education to some of the students,” she says with a smile.
R Reynold echoes her view. The tenth standard student is living with his grandmother. His father passed away and his mother is working as a maid in Chennai and sending back her earnings to the village. His two brothers did not get the quality of education in the school as he is getting, he rues. “After J K Foundation came in, the school underwent huge change,” says the youngster of Alathur village in Markanam. “My elder brothers did not get this quality of education. They hardly had staff. One managed 338 marks in his tenth standard while another flunked,” says Reynold, who wants to pursue a career in medicine.
Jayakrishnan says the main challenge faced by the students in the rural areas is poverty. “Rather than challenging the situation, they become victims and lose focus and end up in spoiling their life and career. As a result, special motivation classes are also conducted to empower them emotionally and psychologically to focus on studies and score better marks in exams,” he says.
State Council of Education research and Training director Kannapan says that more corporates should come forward to emulate this model. He said there are still many remote areas where such schemes if implemented could transform the lives of the poor student
Chennai:
Underprivileged and poor students in the 20 government schools in remote areas of Villupuram district are slowly getting a new lease of life.
The performance of the 20 schools, having a pass percentage less than 50 per cent, was boosted under the school improvement scheme started by the state government under which a private firm can adopt the schools run by the panchayat or municipality or corporation.
Adopted by Chennai-based J K Foundation, the schools underwent rapid changes. And it could be seen in the results. “The pass percentage doubled in the schools from a mere 36 per cent to 72 per cent,” says Jayakrishnan, managing director of J K Group of companies.
And the students bear testimony to the fact. “We hardly had any staff. During the extra classes, we never got any snacks. Basic infrastructure was lacking. But now if a teacher is not present for a day, we immediately get a new teacher,” says Sandhya, who secured first rank in Markannam Higher secondary school in the XII standard exams.
Currently, an engineering college student of Satyabhama College, Sandhya, whose father was a lorry driver, wants to emulate what Jayakrishnan did to her school in Alapakkam village in Markannam. “When I grow up, I will also provide free education to some of the students,” she says with a smile.
R Reynold echoes her view. The tenth standard student is living with his grandmother. His father passed away and his mother is working as a maid in Chennai and sending back her earnings to the village. His two brothers did not get the quality of education in the school as he is getting, he rues. “After J K Foundation came in, the school underwent huge change,” says the youngster of Alathur village in Markanam. “My elder brothers did not get this quality of education. They hardly had staff. One managed 338 marks in his tenth standard while another flunked,” says Reynold, who wants to pursue a career in medicine.
Jayakrishnan says the main challenge faced by the students in the rural areas is poverty. “Rather than challenging the situation, they become victims and lose focus and end up in spoiling their life and career. As a result, special motivation classes are also conducted to empower them emotionally and psychologically to focus on studies and score better marks in exams,” he says.
State Council of Education research and Training director Kannapan says that more corporates should come forward to emulate this model. He said there are still many remote areas where such schemes if implemented could transform the lives of the poor student
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