The air was full of excitement, laughter and relief. It was as if students of Velammal Group of Schools polarised the city’s quota of toppers - a State Topper (non Tamil), seven State Second and nine State Third (Tamil and non Tamil).
Beaming with happiness, Stella Jebakumari, senior principal of Velammal Matriculation School, Mogappair East, said months of intensive training had finally paid dividends. “In our way of teaching, we ensure there is enough training for students in their areas of doubt. That, perhaps, has really helped,” she added.
There would be tests almost every other day, with questions that would set the students thinking in every possible angle. “It was a challenge to get something like 90-95 percent in the school examinations. Initially days were very difficult; eventually, we realised that rigorous training made all the difference,” Saveetha. S who came State Second (498/500) said.
In fact, for students like Harini. M who got State Second (498/500), after writing tests repeatedly, public examination actually didn’t seem to be a great deal. “Honestly, I felt it was just another test. Only when the results time approached, I became very anxious,” she said.
