Of sacrifices, solidarity and sundal

March 03, 2015 07:09 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:15 pm IST - CHENNAI:

Students revise lessons at the Chennai High School at Kottur Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Students revise lessons at the Chennai High School at Kottur Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

The past couple of months have been a blur for R. Aishwarya, who is preparing for the State board class XII examinations that will begin in a couple of days. Without a minute to spare between special classes, tuitions and revision exams, she has had to give up TV, Facebook, dance classes and all things fun.

This is the scene in many houses across the city. “In November, my parents cancelled our satellite TV subscription and I am only allowed to use my phone for half-an-hour a day,” Aishwarya said, adding that she hoped to get at least 95 per cent.

For parents, teachers and students alike, the class X and XII examinations are a trying time. T. Thillai, whose son is a Class XII student, has disconnected wi-fi at home and the cable connection and ensures his entire family does yoga at 5 a.m. “We realised that unless all of us are committed to ensure that my son Rajesh does well, he will struggle,” he said. “Although we have all changed our routine, we are not stressed out about the exams,” he nonetheless added.

Teachers too are going through a gruelling time, with many of them spending long hours at school. “Every year, from November onwards, we take turns to stay in school from 6 a.m., and reach home only after 9 p.m.,” a mathematics teacher from a school in Chetpet said. “That way, students can come to us in case of doubts,” she added. 

Students of the Corporation-run schools who are appearing for board exams have been staying back in their schools for three hours every day since September. 

E. Nirosha and her classmates form a neat circle in the playground at their school in Kottur at 3:30 after school hours, focussing on a different subject each day. These Class X students are preparing for the board exams on March 19. According to headmistress Maheswari Kalpana K., this daily coaching has especially helped slow learners.

W. Elizabeth, headmistress of Chennai High Secondary School, which will have 164 students appearing for Class XII exams and 256 for Class X, said this extra time assigned for preparation has ensured students spend more time on studies. “Most of them are children of daily wage labourers and are expected to help their parents after school. These daily special classes allow them to study instead," she said.

Corporation provides  sundal  for all the students who stay back for the classes.

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