Trichy: Gomathi, an accountant working in EVR College, toils tirelessly after her working hours for the betterment of poor children. She has become a role model by teaching children of her neighbourhood and helping them with their lessons at Re 1 per month.
Gomathi who has realised the importance of education endeavours to reduce student drop out of schools for the last 18 years by running a tuition centre at Ariyamangalam near Trichy. She said “I know the fruits of education. I have learnt my lessons under street lamps during my childhood. I know the hardships faced by students belonging to poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society. They are not in a position to go to tuition centres, which collect hefty fees. Hence, I started the tuition centre.”
Tamil Nadu recorded 16.2 per cent dropout in classes 9 and 10 in the academic year 2017-2018. Dropout in the State Secondary level was 8.1 per cent in 2015-2016 and 10 per cent in 2016-2017. The dropout rate at the primary level was 5.9 per cent in 2017-2018.
Meanwhile, Gomathi has been conducting classes for students from LKG to 10+2 in the tuition centre. Nearly 90 students have been studying at the tuition centre.
She thinks education transforms children’s lives, enabling them to overcome poverty and helping them lead a better life. Millions of children are not learning because of various reasons including poverty and discrimination, she said.
Lauding the role of Gomathi, students have thanked Gomathi for establishing the tuition centre. "Gomathi teacher comes to tuition centre regularly and encourages us to come for classes, learn our lessons," said one of her student.
The tuition centre is in dilapidated condition and students are unable to attend classes during rainy days. The students have raised the demand for a permanent place for the tuition centre.
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