Tribal student in Tamil Nadu govt school passes Class XII exam in style

COIMBATORE: R Malliga, a tribal student, emerged as the topper at Velliyankadu Govt Higher Secondary School in Coimbatore district by scoring an impressive 539 marks, including 98 in computer applications. She is the first student from Bhagavathi Amman Kovil, a tribal hamlet, to pass the Class XII board examinations.Malliga’s journey was not easy. Her parents are daily wage earners — her father works as a farm labourer, and her mother is unwell and stays at home. Her two elder brothers and sister dropped out of school due to their family’s financial situation."I got good marks only because of my teachers’ support and encouragement," said a beaming Malliga. "I never expected to become the school topper. I am really happy. I want to pursue higher studies and get a good job, but I don’t know which course to choose," she said. Malliga now hopes for proper career guidance and financial support to continue her education.Deivika S of MGR Nagar in Velliyankadu, another tribal student in the same school, scored 522 marks in the science group, including 96 in biology. Her parents are daily wage workers."I scored good marks thanks to the constant encouragement and support from our teachers. They explained the subjects clearly and even conducted special classes for us," Deivika said. "I wrote NEET, and I am interested in joining the BDS course," she said.Velliyankadu Govt Higher Secondary School has achieved a 100% pass result in Class XII board exams for the last 13 years. Of the 86 students who appeared for the exam this year, 15 were from tribal settlements. All of them passed.School headmaster Socrates Kulasekaran S credited the success to the relentless efforts of teachers."Our teachers work tirelessly, even during holidays, to support the students," he said. "Enrolling tribal students and ensuring they stay in school is a challenge. Out of 920 students in our school, 136 are from tribal settlements. We constantly motivate them and offer counselling to help them continue their education. But after they finish school, they urgently need financial support to pursue higher studies," he said.