The Deccan Herald 13.12.2010
Citizen initiative to boost SSLC performance
Bangalore, Dec 12, DHNS:
Free coaching for poor performers in 12 state-run, corporation schools of Jayanagar
As many as 1,000 SSLC students of government, corporation and aided schools in Jayanagar will attend free coaching classes from this month, thanks to an initiative by a group of academicians and elected representatives.
About 65 teacher-volunteers are part of this campaign to train poor performers, picked up from 12 schools in the area. A majority of the volunteers are retired government school teachers or those who were teaching at coaching classes.
The 60-day crash course commences on December 29 at three selected venues in Jayanagar and culminates in early March next year. Ninety-minute classes will be held on all subjects on all working days and a lengthy session is scheduled for Sundays.
Launched last year, the project initially focused on select subjects like Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. About 750 students attended the coaching class last year.
The pass percentage in 12 schools went up significantly despite the change in question paper pattern last year, the volunteers claimed.
The group has also set up a team of experts in each subject to standardise the teaching methodology. Training sessions were held for the trainers also.
Major challenge
According to the teachers, the major challenge is to train students within 60 days. However, they are ready to undertake the mission this year too.
“We conduct a test before the commencing the course to evaluate the knowledge of each student in a specific subject. Several students don’t even know the basics of difficult subjects like Mathematics and we have to teach them the fundamentals,” said Shyamanna K, headmaster of Government High School, Sarakki, JP Nagar.
Jayanagar Academic Committee coordinator S Murali Mohan said they faced initial resistance from parents and students to conduct classes after school hours. However, the parents were convinced after seeing the improvement in the performance of the students, he said.
