Aarthy Tagore J. took a transfer certificate two years ago from a private school in R.S. Puram to join Plus One at the Coimbatore Corporation Girls’ Higher Secondary School on Oppanakara Street.
She scored 481 out of 500 in the Class X examination, she could afford the fee of the private school , yet she chose to go to the Corporation school. The reason she moved out was because of the environment in her former school, , says her father T.G. Jayachandran Singh, a legal officer with a government institution.
Aarthy is not the only one to have migrated from a private school to a Corporation one. There are many others and the tribe is increasing, says Corporation Education Officer R. Ravi.
For some it is the fees that private schools demand at the higher secondary level that is a factor. This was the reason U. Sreedevi shifted to the Oppanakara school. At her previous school she had to pay Rs. 27,000 up front, which she could not. So she sought a migration and says she does not regret that decision even once in spite of the fact she travels 20 km a day to and from school.
These students also feel the teachers in the Corporation school are far more patient, approachable and experienced. The Corporation schools say that sometimes it is obvious that these students from private schools have not grasped the basics of certain subjects.
S. Rajasekar, a teacher at the Corporation school in Anupperpalayam says, “I’ve had students who joined Class VIII and IX without an understanding of even simple concepts.” The Corporation takes efforts to train the students in basic concepts and brings them on a par with other students. It is no secret that Private Schools often ask slow learners to leave their school to ensure their pass percentage is not diminished. for The Government or local body-run schools often come to the rescue of such students.
Rohini Selvaraj, who transferred her three sons from a private school to the Corporation school in P.N. Pudur says, “Apart from quality of exucation, the infrastructure is also on a par with private schools, as digital classrooms, use of internet have become common.” The Corporation starting English medium sections has been a big draw , says V. Alexander of American India Foundation, which has been working with the civic body schools to improve quality of teaching.
At the middle school level, the Foundation has trained teachers to use English as a medium of instruction and also information technology tools to enhance students’ learning experience.
Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan says that students from private schools flocking to Corporation schools is the results of the efforts the civic body has invested in its educational institutions. The Corporation has a few more plans on the anvil and the results of those will lead to more migration, he says.
