Sivaranga Charities has provided scholarships to school and college students. It is also continuously engaged in improving students’ lives by offering them coaching in various subjects. Recently, it started conducting free spoken English classes for students from schools in and around R.A. Puram. Seven years old, the charity is reported to have benefitted over 400 students.
It was started in 2007 by Dr. R. Chandrasekaran, former professor, Madras Medical College, in memory of his parents, N. Ranga Rao and Sivakamu.
“Since 2007, the Trust has been conducting free coaching classes in commerce and science group for standards XI and XII students. Apart from that, every year, from August to October, we conduct a short-term crash course in engineering subjects for students of Tamil medium who have secured admissions to various engineering courses. We also conduct course counselling sessions,” Dr. R. Chandrasekaran said.
“After completing Standard X, many students drop out due to lack of financial assistance or take up jobs to make ends meet. Most of these students are good at their studies,” he pointed out.
This year, the trust is conducting free spoken English classes for Standard VII students studying at schools in and around R. A. Puram. The class is conducted by Nirmala Raja Ram, a former English teacher of DAV Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Gopalpuram.
Nirmala Raja Ram said, “The students are very enthusiastic about learning spoken English, and are very ambitious. A mock conversation is conducted at regular intervals among the students. They commit mistakes. At times, they are corrected by their classmates. They take it in their stride because they want to learn.”
M. Lakshmikanthan, headmaster, Chettinad Raja Muthiah Higher Secondary School, R. A. Puram, (the classes are conducted at the school), said, “The students show a keen interest in attending the spoken English classes after the school hours. They want to learn something new every day.”
C. Tajudeen, father of T. Arifullah, said the classes were a boon to students from poor socio-economic backgrounds. “Even during exam time, my son attends the classes.”
“The classes have helped me improve my English language skills so much that nowadays I read the English dailies and check the dictionary when I come across new words. It has helped me develop the habit of reading and understand my other school subjects,” S. Bharath and T. Thalanth Kumar say.
The course is conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3.45 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. For details, contact Dr. R. Chandrasekharan at 98410 30040.
