The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Counselling to rescue of failed students

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Counselling to rescue of failed students

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: R. Poornima (name changed) failed in Science in her Class X Board examinations last year. Totally dejected, she confined herself to her room, and avoided talking to anyone. Today, she is a cheerful Class XI student, continuing her studies with enthusiasm.

Had Poornima not attended the counselling session organised by the University of Madras, things would have, perhaps, not been the same.

The sessions not only helped her come out of the depression, but also equipped her to prepare well and excel in her supplementary examinations.

About 150 students, who had failed in their Class X or XII Board examinations, along with their parents, participated in the sixth edition of the free counselling organised by the National Service Scheme wing of the University of Madras here on Saturday.

The counselling programme was aimed at restoring the students' self-esteem and motivating them to perform well in the upcoming supplementary examinations. While most students were from city schools, a few of them had come from other parts of the State.

They were divided into groups of ten and made to sit in different rooms. Two counsellors interacted with them. The sessions focussed on motivation, time management, memory techniques and relaxation. Sessions exclusively for parents also were organised.

A team of 25 psychologists, most of them from the Madras University's Psychology Department, and a few private practitioners were involved in the programme. "For most students, the pressure from parents is immense. So we give equal importance to sensitising the parents too ," a counsellor noted.

Madras University Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran, Ethiraj College Chairman S. Jagadeesan, Principal M. Thavamani and Galaxy Communications Managing Director M. Ramesh Prabha participated in the inaugural function.

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