AWARD -- 9:
THIS TEACHER HAS BEEN SILENTLY REVOLUTIONISING LEARNING
P S SUNDAR
G Rajendran, post-graduate teacher of Political
Science in Government-aided St Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, has
been silently bringing about a revolution in the learning process of students
mostly hailing from marginalised families with no fixed income.
Four years ago, when
he was assigned the task to teach Political Science for Plus Two students, he
discovered that the poor economic background of most of the students was a
de-motivating factor. So, besides taking
special classes in the evenings which helped the students study in a better ambience
than in their houses, he announced a cash reward of ` 10,000 from his
personal money to every student who scored 180 marks out of 200 in Plus Two
public exam.
In the first year
after announcing this, no student rose to this level. So, Rajendran intensified his coaching
strategy and the next year (2015-16), one student won this cash award. Excited by this, Headmaster Bro Arul made
the student receive ` 10,000 at the school’s Parents’ Day function. This motivated the students further and in
2016-17, two got the award – ` 20,000 in all.
And, in 2016-17, the
number swelled to as many as six! Of
them, D Padmanabhan scored 197 marks out of 200 and bagged Third Rank in the
state in the subject. “In the 37 years of
introduction of Plus Two, this was the first time a student of our school has
scored state rank in Political Science.
So, I am giving an extra `5,000 to Padmanabhan”, Rajendran
told me.
Hence, at the
function held on Monday, the Bishop of Ootacamund Rt Rev Dr Amalraj distributed
` 65,000 in all to the six students as monetary contribution made by
Rajendran.
The students –
Padmanabhan, Abinesh, Hariharan, Karthick, Praveen Kumar and Sibi Chakaravarthy
– all hail from poor families. They
acknowledged that the money now received will help them for their college
studies.
“With this and some
other contributions, Rajendran has donated over ` one lakh from his personal money
for the benefit of our students. In
appreciation of these, we have honoured him with the ‘Jewell of St Antony’s
award’,” Bro Arul said.
(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)
