The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Upgrading of high school is a boon for disabled

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Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Upgrading of high school is a boon for disabled

“Only institute in south to offer free education with boarding facility”

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Upgrading of a Government School for the deaf here as a high school is a boon for poor children with hearing and speech impairment in the southern districts.

Founded in 1981, the school had classes only up to seventh standard till recently. This was a hurdle for the boys and girls in pursuing high school.

Though each class had a maximum strength of 10 students, only one or two had the affordability to pursue education further.

“This is the only Government School offering free education with boarding facility for the entire southern districts. They get books, soap, hair oil and two sets of uniform free. The next closest school was in Pudukottai. Hence, most of the children had to drop out of school after 7th class,” the Headmistress, S. Shantha Ruby, said.

Getting admission to other government schools was a difficult task as all schools had a limited strength of 10 seats in each class. Not all parents had the wherewithal to pay the fees in the management schools, she said. These children needed special coaching and could not be put in regular schools, she said.

“There was adequate number of classrooms in the school. We pointed out that all that the Government needed to do was to give only permission for up to 10th class and there was no additional expenditure involved. We took up the issue with the Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu and got necessary permission in 2006-end,” former Vice-Chairman of Virudhunagar Municipality, S. Balakrishnasamy, said.

Four students are now appearing for 10th standard this year. “One of them had dropped out of education after completing 7th standard in our school. He joined us again after a break and is now writing 10th examination,” Ms. Ruby said. Stating that Kalasalingam University in the district was offering an integrated B.Tech course for students who pass out of 10th standard, Ms. Ruby said bright students among them now had the chance to pursue higher education also.

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