For the first time in the history of the Sainik School at Kazhakuttam in Thiruvananthapuram, six children from impoverished tribal families of Attappady have got admission for next academic year by winning an all-India entrance examination and subsequent interview.
Though 15 tribal students passed the examination, only six were selected on Monday based on the outcome of the interview and medical examination.
Those who failed to win the final round have already undergone the Navodaya School Entrance examination and are awaiting results. The children selected to the school are Binuraj of Karara U.P. School, B. Hari and R. Vishnu of Kottathara U.P. School, M. Midhin, B. Shivakumar and R. Aneesh of Puthur U.P. School.
'It looks like a miracle'
“I never thought of winning such a national-level competitive examination and subsequent interview. It looks like a miracle,’’ said Hari. Hari and others were part of a group of 24 tribal students from Attappady who appeared for the examination this year under the guidance of the 1991 batch students of the Sainik School.
Buoyed by the success, the alumni association is planning to train at least 100 tribal children in the backward region for the examination next year at the school . The students underwent a six-month training session under the initiative Project Shine. Former student Babu Mathew led the initiative.
“Our alumni association undertook the task in its silver jubilee year and it was dedicated to the memory of a batchmate, Shine P. Baby, a lecturer at Rajagiri College, Kalamassery, who passed away in 2006,” says Mr. Mathew.
