THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tribal students are scripting success stories thanks to the efforts of “Project Shine,” an initiative of the 1991 batch alumni of Sainik School Kazhakoottam.
For the first time in the history of SSK, six tribal students coached by “Project Shine” secured admission to the sixth standard after the third round of interview and medical test. During the second round, 15 tribal students out of 24 were coached for the interview by “Project Shine” group led by child psychologist and alumnus of SSK, Babu Mathew and his wife Litty Babu.
The students who will join SSK in May are R. Vishnu, R. Aneesh, N. Binuraj, B. Hari, M. Midhin and B. Sivakumar. Though the medical board found Sivakumar unfit, ‘Project Shine’ has requested it to review his case.
The final rank list for the admission into class VI & IX for 2016-17 sessions was published on Sunday. R. Aneesh, M. Midhin and B. Sivakumar belong to Government Tribal Vocational Higher Secondary School, Pudur, R. Vishnu and B. Hari are from Government UPS, Kottathara and N. Binuraj is from Govt UPS, Karara. The interview board consisted of Thamarasserry DEO K. T. Mohandas, SSK administrative officer Lt. Col. B. Girish Kumar and Kozhikode deputy collector V. Krishnakumar.
Mr Babu Mathew, “Project Shine” convener, told DC that the shortlisted candidates were taught the probable questions. “We are elated that six students have come up trumps in the final list. The first student in the waiting list, K. Manikandan, also belongs to “Project Shine”. Usually one or two in the waiting list too get into the final list,” said Mr. Mathew.
The volunteers of “Project Shine” had coached boys for the entrance of Navodaya School exams for which the results are expected by mid-May. They also expect the tribal students, who have not made it to the final list of SSK admission, to get into Kendriya Vidyalaya schools. From the next year onwards, “Project Shine” volunteers are planning to coach girl students for Navodaya school entrance coaching.
