As many as 244 girls and 130 boys began taking classes on Monday at the NEET coaching facility the State Government had set up at the Sri Krishna Institutions here.
The students, who are from government schools in Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode, Tirupur, the Nilgiris and Coimbatore, would undergo special coaching in physics, chemistry, botany and zoology for 25 days, said K.M. Velmurugan, Head Master, Government Higher Secondary School, Madukkarai and a co-ordinator at the facility.
The students would stay at the college hostel as would the 20 trainers, all of whom were teachers who had undergone special training to coach the students to clear NEET. Aside from teaching the four subjects, a few trainers would also teach yoga, exercise and give motivational talks so as to make the students mentally fit to take the medical entrance examination.
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The classes would begin at 9 a.m. and go on till 5 p.m. But the students’ day would begin earlier, around 5.30 a.m. for yoga.
To help the students undergo the coaching, the State Government's Department of School Education had given them handbooks, notebooks and writing materials, apart from bearing the cost of food and accommodation, Mr. Velmurugan said.
The Government also helped with transportation to the venue by arranging special buses, said B. Monisha of the Municipal Girls Higher Secondary School, Muruganpudur, near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district.
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She said the school selected her based on her half-yearly examination performance and an informal interaction with the teachers. She said she found the coaching good.
“I found the use of soft boards and multi-media elements interesting as it made my understanding easy. Plus, the approach of the trainers is different as they focussed on making the basic concepts clear.”
It was not just academics but the way the trainers dealt with the students was also different, said A. Velarasu, a student of the Government Higher Secondary School in Thindalpadi, Dharmapuri district.
“Even as I was travelling to the coaching centre, I was doubtful if I would be able to confidently attempt the NEET. But having come here and listened to the trainers, I'm confident.”
Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani inaugurated the training.
For SC/ST students
The District Adi Dravida Welfare Department also started a NEET coaching facility for SC and ST students on Monday.
District Adi Dravida Welfare Officer R. Senthivel said with the support of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, which had donated ₹1.50 lakh, the Department had planned to coach around 100 students at the Adi Dravida Boys' Hostel on Balasundaram Road.