Date:01/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/01/stories/2008060155740900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Corporation school students in upbeat mood

Kannal Achuthan

Photo: R. Ragu

WELL DESERVED: Renuka Devi (left) celebrates her success with Chennai Corporation schools’ toppers K. Divya, N. Sukanya, G. Manju, Narayana Vadivu and J. Angel on the premises of Ripon Building on Friday. —

Chennai: Fifteen-year-old Renuka Devi, daughter of a snack vendor, has bagged the second rank among students of Chennai Corporation schools in the SSLC examinations this year.

Renuka, whose parents are in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, lives with the trustees of a non-governmental organisation in the city. She shares the home with a few underprivileged children.

“My father makes and sells ‘murukku’ and my mother helps him. My family lived in Chennai for a few years but went back to Nellore. I stayed on here,” said Renuka, a student of the Corporation Girls Higher Secondary School on Madhavaram High Road, Perambur. She is now under the care of Suyam Charitable Trust. She did much of her homework and studying sitting in Shiny Tailoring Centre, which is also run by Suyam at its small office/residential quarters on Wall Tax Road.

The soft-spoken teenager hopes to go into the science stream, get a degree and study for the Indian Administrative Service.

On Friday, Renuka was among the Chennai Corporation school students who were congratulated by Mayor M. Subramanian for their performance.

Teachers praised

The first rank (480/500) among Chennai Corporation schools was shared by three students: J. Angel (Rottler Street, Choolai); R. Swarnalatha (Saidapet) and N. Sukanya (Buddha Street, Washermenpet). The second rank (479/500) was also shared by three students: G. Manju (Rottler Street); K. Divya (Market Street, Perambur) and P. Renuka Devi (Madhavaram High Road, Perambur). Narayana Vadivu of Puliyur Corporation Higher Secondary School, Kodambakkam, came third with 478/500.

Many of the toppers come from underprivileged families. Angel’s father works as a security guard, Manju’s father is a mason and Divya is the daughter of an electrician. The students said they had done well in the examinations because of the coaching they received from teachers.

The overall pass percentage in Chennai Corporation schools is 79, the same as last year. The Mayor said that individual performances have shown a marked improvement, with 996 students scoring over 400/500 when compared to 428 students last year.

Also, 42 students have secured centum in various subjects this year when compared to only five students last year.

“Students of north Chennai schools have done particularly well because of improvement in basic amenities and educational infrastructure over the last two years,” the Mayor said. The Corporation school on Wall Tax Road has secured 100 per cent pass. S

tudents who have scored 400/500 and above will be awarded Rs. 1,000 each.