The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : These `achievers' had a convocation of a different kind

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 07, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

These `achievers' had a convocation of a different kind

By our Staff Reporter

Students of schools run by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike seen after receiving certificates of achievement in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE, JULY 6. There are no limits to dreams. Ask Husna Banu.

The young girl studied in a school run by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and emerged a topper in this year's Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination.

On Tuesday, she told an admiring audience that she wanted to get into the Indian civil services and serve the country. If that did not happen, she would rather become a software engineer, she said.

Ms. Banu's ambitions were voiced at a "convocation" the BMP had organised here to felicitate students who had done well in the SSLC examinations.

Thirty-two students, who secured a first class in the SSLC examinations, were honoured. They were neither dressed in the mandatory traditional black robes nor were they conferred high degrees. But all of them had one quality in abundance — dreams for their future. Nor did they consider themselves at a disadvantage as compared with their counterparts in the city's prestigious and better-equipped private schools.

The city-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Parikrama Humanity Foundation, Pratiksha Foundation and Akshaya Patra Foundation, have adopted the BMP's high schools under a programme called "Operation Recharge."

Under the scheme, the NGOs would work to improve the quality of teaching, train the teachers and try to reduce the percentage of dropouts. Ms. Banu's performance is, therefore, considered proof of the programme's success.

That the programme had achieved a lot was evident. For instance, another student revealed that she had not been confident of clearing the examination.

"But now after being part of `Operation Recharge,' I feel I am not inferior to other children, intellectually or otherwise."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

A day of anxiety for applicants

For some Bangaloreans, it is `the best budget so far'

Seat selection for special groups this week

These `achievers' had a convocation of a different kind

Two killed in road accidents

Be ready with fees, CET Cell tells students

Woman rescued from employer in Kuwait

Seminar

Around the City

In Bangalore Today