THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tribal students have done it. Fifteen students of Attappadi have passed the Sainik School entrance exam. This is for the first time that so many of them have got selection to appear for the interview and the medical test.
This is the result of ‘Project Shine,’ an initiative of the 1991 batch of Sainik School Kazhakoottam who coached 24 tribal students for the sixth grade all-India entrance exam.
Those who qualified belong to Government Tribal Vocational Higher Secondary School, Government UPS, Kottathara, Govt Tribal Higher Secondary School, Sholayar, Mount Carmel School, Jellippara and Govt UPS, Karara.
The boys are R. Aneesh, M. Midhin, B. Hari, R. Saneesh, R. Vishnu, K. Vignesh, R. Rajesh, K. U. Praveen, P. Maheshwar, Manikandan, M. Vishnu, Binuraj, Ullas, B. Sivakumar and B. Sasikumar. The written test was held on January 3.
Though interviews are also being held in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, since they had appeared for their written test in Kozhikode, they are likely to attend it at the Office of the Institute of Maternal & Child Health there.
Mr Babu Mathew, child psychologist and ‘Project Shine’ convener, said, “we taught them through the Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) approach. The idea of coaching tribal students came from the former SSK registrar, P. G. Suresh Kumar who is now based in New Delhi. We had to make them realise that ‘we are there and the students have to do something,’” said Mr. Mathew.
‘Project Shine’ was envisioned to commemorate 25 years of the passing out of the 1991 batch from their alma mater. The initiative has been dedicated to the memory of their batch mate, Shine P. Baby, a lecturer at Rajagiri College, Kalamassery, who passed away in 2006. Mr Soni Somarajan, Old Boys Association general secretary and also an alumnus of 1991 batch, told DC that from next year onwards they have plans to teach girl tribal students to gain entry into Navodaya schools.
“The challenge is not yet over. Once these students are enrolled, they have to compete with the other students. At least the Thiruvananthapuram-based old boys would have to act as foster parents to ensure they complete their full academic term of seven years till their 12th standard,” said Mr. Somarajan.
A total of 180 hours’ training– 80 each for mathematical knowledge and language ability and 20 for reasoning and logical abilities-- was provided to the budding defence personnel.
