The tribal welfare department in Chennai recorded a 96.7% pass percentage in the Class X board examinations, surpassing the performance of government schools as well as those run by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, Social Welfare Department, and Greater Chennai Corporation.
Key highlights of the results
Of the 2,245 students who appeared for the exam, 2,170 passed, marking a 3% increase over the previous year's pass percentage. Attendance and pass percentage were identical for both boys and girls. Among the 67 tribal welfare schools, 44 achieved a 100% pass rate.
D. Vijayan, headmaster of Government Tribal Residential Higher Secondary School in Karumandhurai, Salem, noted that most students come from illiterate families and become first-generation graduates. "They change the future of their families," he said.
Support from the department
The department ensures that families do not have to spend on their children's education. "Everything — from notebooks and food to transport and college application fees — is covered by the department. We have also held awareness programmes for parents who are hesitant to send their children to school or college," Vijayan added.
Around 1,500 teachers across the state worked to improve the results, said tribal welfare department director S. Annadurai. "Students' hard work and the teachers' dedication have yielded good results. Teachers identified areas where students needed more support. Special attention was given based on student profiles and previous performance," he said.
Teacher training and review meetings
Special training camps were conducted for teachers to help them support students better. "We have increased review meetings fivefold compared with the previous year," Annadurai said. In the Class 12 public examinations, tribal welfare schools recorded a 97% pass rate, up from 95% in the previous year.
Last year, a student from one of the schools, A. Rajeshwari, became the first student from a tribal community to gain admission to IIT. "More than 200 students entered top colleges across the country last year. This year, our goal is to increase that number to 500," Annadurai said.
