The Hindu        07.12.2011

Expert teachers to be grouped under Corporation initiative

Meera Srinivasan

Impetus: Focus on key concepts, practice exercises based on the
blueprints of question papers will equip students better, say teachers. —
FILE PHOTO.

In an attempt to bring good teachers in contact with
students who might need them the most, the Chennai Corporation has come
up with an innovative programme that seeks to give additional training
to select groups of students about to take their class XII Board
examination in March.

To start with, experienced
teachers handling commerce, accountancy, chemistry and mathematics have
been grouped. They work together, preparing modules on key concepts, and
discussing blueprints of question papers in detail.

According
to T.N. Venkatesh, Joint Commissioner (Education) of Chennai
Corporation, the initiative seeks to pay special attention to students,
helping them understand concepts better.

“Some
teachers are very experienced and experts in teaching concepts.
Typically, a group has five to six teachers. Students who need
additional help in these subjects assemble in a particular school and
attend these sessions,” he said.

This is
particularly helpful in the case of certain schools that may not have a
subject teacher posted after the school was upgraded, or may be awaiting
a teacher as the previous teacher got transferred. The sessions are
conducted at select schools such as ones in Saidapet, Choolai and
Maduvankarai. Students from other schools are intimated about it, and
the sessions are attended by students in large numbers, according to
officials.

Mr. Venkatesh says teachers have been
very receptive to the idea. “This is also a way to recognise very good
talent among our teachers and give them space to innovate in teaching
methodology.” Not just teachers, AEOs who are subject experts and the
Joint Commissioner himself have been actively involved in evolving new
modules. “It is a team effort and it is in the interest of students,” he
said.

Additional support

Many
students going to Chennai Schools certainly need this additional
support, according to teachers. N. Kalaiselvam, chemistry teacher at the
Chennai School in Rotler Street, Choolai, says students get little
support from parents.

“They cannot afford tuition
classes, either. With some help, they might be able to perform better
and that will make a huge difference to their higher education,” she
said.

Pointing to their adverse home environments,
she said: “Many children did not even have a safe place to keep their
records during the recent rains. The pages were all wet when they
brought it for submission.”

Given that the
examinations will begin in a few months, it may not be possible to cover
the entire textbook. “We choose important chapters, key concepts and
likely questions and concentrate on just that. That way each student can
appear for the examination with more confidence,” said Ms. Kalaiselvam.