Nellore: Three years after entering active politics, urban development minister P. Narayana is all set to don the role of a teacher again. He will counsel students of the ACS Government Medical College in Nellore at regular intervals, in view of the poor results for the last two years. The minister was in a fix for three reasons. one, he was being blamed for the poor results amid allegations that he was promoting his own medical college; and health minister Kamineni Srinivas had requested him to pay special attention to the college to bring it on par with Narayana Medical College and third, the Chief Minister was certain to question him on the matter as he hails from the district.
As of now, the pass percentage of first year students in ACSGM College is a mere 39.33, with 2.67 per cent of them getting a distinction, in contrast to the pass percentage in Narayana Medical College which is 72.15 per cent and 24.47 per cent respectively. Incidentally, Narayana Medical College had faced a similar situation for five years after 2000. However, it changed dramatically after Mr Narayana applied the same technique in his junior colleges to bag a large number of ranks, despite initial resistance from students and professors of the medical college.
A principal working in the Narayana Medical College had quit overnight in 2005 after vehemently opposing implementation of study hours and orientation classes in a professional course. Undeterred, Mr Narayana directly approached the students, citing advantages they would have in future if they attended orientation classes and special cases and studied for extended hours. A section of students agreed and some professors came forward to take additional classes when after they were offered special incentives.
According to Mr Narayana, the students are divided into four groups based on their learning skills. English coaching was given for students who studied in Telugu medium. Exams were held once a week. The efforts started paying dividends after six weeks. Those against the special classes also fell in line after their parents scolded them when Mr Narayana sent the weekly results to their parents.
Attributing the top position of his college in the state for following the same pattern even now, Mr Narayana said he had a Herculean task ahead of him with respect to convincing students of ACSGM College for special classes but expressed confidence in influencing them as well as their parents.
