Tamil Nadu’s Super 40 to aid govt students crack IIT-JEE, NEET – Times of India

The school education department selected 40 students from Tamil medium and 40 students from English medium in Class XII in each district based on their previous performances in exams such as NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) and various assessment tests. After getting willingness from parents, these students have been enrolled in model schools for the residential training in their respective districts.

In the first phase, the school education department has established these model schools in 14 districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Trichy, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Perambalur and Krishnagiri.

“The selected students are given food, accommodation, books, study material, uniforms along with a tablet for academic activities. In the morning, students will have regular classes and in the afternoon, teachers will train them in the concepts covered for the day. They also take a 20-minute test every day on the tablet and scores will be shared immediately with the teachers. Students can clarify their doubts immediately,” a teacher who is working in a model school said. The model schools were launched in November and December 2021.

Teachers who are training students need to undergo periodic training to update themselves. In Chennai, there are two model schools in operation one in Saidapet and another in Nungambakkam. While the onein Saidapet has 70 students for residential training programme, 66 students are currently undergoing training in Chennai Boys Higher Secondary School in Nungambakkam. Students from government schools, corporation schools and Adi Dravidar welfare schools are selected by following 69% reservation.

“Most of the students are from poor families and have varied career interests. These model schools are giving them quality education on a par with CBSE schools,” an official said.

Students will attend classes from 8.15am to 5pm every day including Saturday. They will also have other activities like sports during the weekends. Students from biology and maths groups alone were selected for the programme. In the next phase, commerce students also will be selected and given training for CA exams.

“The project is still in a nascent stage. Government school students will be trained to crack all types of competitive exams in these model schools. Students also will be trained in extracurricular activities like sports, music and arts,” said R Sudhan, state project director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.