The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Medavakkam school gets computer centre, library

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 22, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Medavakkam school gets computer centre, library

Staff Reporter

UK-based organisations combine to distribute largesse

CATCHING UP WITH TIMES: Students trying their hand at the computer centre which was inaugurated in Medavakkam High School on Thursday.

TAMBARAM: A full-fledged computer centre and a well-equipped library are the latest additions at the Government High School in Medavakkam near Tambaram.

The computer centre with 10 monitors and the library were dedicated on Thursday by representatives of Cooperative Financial Services (CFS) and Information Technology company Xansa, both based in United Kingdom.

Jim Slack, Director, Delivery and Development, CFS, said the organisation has started similar projects in many countries in order to reach out to the society. As Xansa was their client and was already into such projects, they decided to set up the computer centre and library at this government school, Mr. Slack said. Six of his colleagues were also present on the occasion.

Gayathri Mohan, Associate Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Xansa, said the company earmarked one per cent of its annual profits towards projects for the welfare of society. The aim of the computer centre and library was to impart basic computer skills to students from sixth standard onwards, before providing them training on using the internet and advanced computer applications.

Among 31 projects throughout India, 13 were in Chennai and nearby areas. CFS was looking for a partner to implement such projects and hence decided to start this as a joint venture, Ms. Gayathri said.

B.Ravi, president of Medavakkam village panchayat said, the school catered to several hundred children hailing from poor families in rural pockets and the project would be a boon to these students.

K.Ramanujam, Chief Educational Officer of Kancheepuram district, said they selected the Medavakkam High School, considering its location and access to large families in rural pockets surrounding it. There were proposals to upgrade it as a Higher Secondary School next year and the centre would benefit students of eleventh and twelfth standards next year.

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