The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A cultural fest for community colleges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 24, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A cultural fest for community colleges

Staff Reporter

The movement is aimed at providing job-oriented education

CHENNAI: It was a platform for more than 600 students to meet, exchange information about their respective community colleges and compete against each other in cultural programmes — all for the first time.

The community college run by Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Madras and Madras Centre for Research and Development for Community Education (MCRDCE) hosted a one-day cultural fest that brought in students from colleges in various parts of the State.

The community college movement is aimed at providing job-oriented education and life-coping skills through 153 colleges spread over 17 States.

At the valedictory function, chief guest Nalli Kuppuswami Chetty said he was happy to be a part of the cultural fest, a decade after he inaugurated the Madras Community College in Santhome.

While student G. Susanna Joyce talked of how she mastered English to address gatherings at the YWCA, A. D. Susivana recalled how training rekindled hope after her divorce and helped her get a job at Bilroth Hospital.

MCRDCE director Mr. Xavier Alphonse recounted the life and achievements of President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who overcame financial and social challenges in his early life.

Two winners

There were two winners at the fest — Loyola College and Sacred Heart College (Villupuram).

Chairperson of YWCA Community College Sara B. Cherian said the most important programme of the day was the "ice-breaking session" in the afternoon.

"Most students realised for the first time that there are thousands of them studying in various community colleges.

"They interacted and promised to keep in touch with each other. All these help create a sense of identity," Ms. Sara said.

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