From listening to the varied career interests and co-curricular activities they pursued to getting the correct answer to a general knowledge question in football, chief guest and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, was floored interacting with the students of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School. Now, by enrolling for the The Hindu Newspaper in Education (NIE) programme, the students are game for more activities.
The Hindu NIE programme for 2010-2011 was launched on Friday at Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School. Mr. Bedi recalled his childhood, particularly the assembly session in schools where students had to read newspaper headlines aloud. He stressed the need to take up reading as a habit. “The more books you read, the more is your knowledge base,” he said. The Hindu NIE programmes are conducted to enhance school students' outlook through personality development sessions, including public speaking and quiz competitions. This is the seventh year of the NIE programme. N. Krishnan, Regional General Manager (Circulation), The Hindu , said in Chennai around 350 schools comprising six lakh students are benefiting through the various activities of the NIE programme. “Quiz, painting competition, speed writing… we are adding more activities to bring out the best among children,” he said. Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School Senior principal S. Namasivayam, vice-principal G. Vijayalakshmi, NIE Coordinator Alka Sharma and teachers participated.