Latest news with #PlusTwo
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
50 dropouts admitted in colleges in Tirunelveli district
The spot admission organised here on Friday by District Collector R. Sukumar to ensure the continued higher studies of the students after Plus Two brought 50 possible dropouts back to educational stream. After the Plus Two results were declared, the Collector established a Career Guidance and Counselling Centre at the Collectorate. The experts and the teachers manning this Centre were guiding and counselling the students for getting admission in the courses and the colleges of their choice based on the marks they had scored. Meanwhile, the Collector also asked the teachers handling Plus Two to collect details about their students who have got admission in the college and the course they had joined. After collecting this information, the teachers shared it with the Chief Educational Officer Sivakumar and the Career Guidance and Counselling Centre at the Collectorate so that the dropouts could easily be identified. The dropouts and their parents or guardians were contacted over the phone to pinpoint the reason behind their children becoming dropout. If it was due to poverty, Mr. Sukumar arranged for funds from the philanthropists, major hospitals, private firms to pay the tuition fee. If they could not get admission in a college or course of their choice due to low marks, they were counselled about the alternative courses they can join and the future prospects if they can do well. In the first phase, a 'spot admission' programme was organised at the Collectorate to ensure admission for the dropouts. While the poor students were helped financially, others' admission in the colleges were facilitated with the help of the heads of the colleges. Since the Plus Two students who had appeared for the supplementary examinations were waiting for admission in the colleges, the second 'spot admission' event was organised on Friday in which representatives from two government, 10 government-aided and 12 self-finance colleges participated. 'Of the 55 students attended this programme, 50 students got admission in the colleges,' said officials of Department of School Education. When a poor girl student, who had lost her parents to cancer, participated in the 'spot admission' programme, Mr. Sukumar got her admission in Zoology in Rani Anna Government College for Women, Pettai, here and immediately sanctioned ₹10,000 from the Collector's Discretionary Funds to pay the tuition, hostel fees and uniform.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM Stalin releases Tamil Nadu's State policy for school education; reiterates two-language formula
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday (August 8, 2025) released the Tamil Nadu State Education Policy - School Education, and reiterated the State's two-language policy of teaching only Tamil and English. The policy has been designed keeping in mind Tamil Nadu's unique character and is aimed at preparing students for the future with a vision, he said. Listing out some of the highlights of the policy, Mr. Stalin said instead of (encouraging) memorising, the policy was to help students to think and act. He said the policy aimed at making students creative, sought to link education with physical training, and emphasised the significance of the Tamil language. Read the full document here. The DMK government believed that all students must complete their school education and pursue higher education. This year, about 72% of students who completed Plus Two exams were pursuing higher education, he said. He hoped the number would be higher in the coming years, and that the target was 100%. In his speech, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated the Tamil Nadu government's position to bring back education to the State List. Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that the National Education Policy was a 'vidhi' (fate), but the State Education Policy was a 'madhi'. The policy was formulated based on the recommendations made by the Justice D. Murugesan Committee that was tasked with drafting a distinct State Education Policy. In April 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced the constitution of a committee to formulate a State Education Policy for Tamil Nadu. Justice Murugesan, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, led the committee that comprised a broad spectrum of experts in academics, sports, and music, among others. Earlier, then Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, in his revised budget speech 2021-22, had said the government would appoint a high-level committee of educationists and experts to formulate a distinct State education policy in keeping with the historical legacy, the present situation, and the State's future aspirations. In July 2024, the Justice Murugesan committee submitted its report to the Tamil Nadu government. The committed had, among others, recommended that formal schooling must begin only at Class 1 in all institutions on 'completion of 5 years' as on 31 July of an academic year. It may be noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) favours children completing six years to enter formal school education. During the event on the Anna Centenary Library campus in Chennai, the Chief Minister also felicitated students who studied in State-run schools and have secured admissions into various prestigious higher education institutions. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers Ma. Subramanian, P.K. Sekarbabu, Govi. Chezhiaan, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Chennai Mayor R. Priya, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and senior officials were also present.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
School students at Erattupetta rekindles career dream of Ranganathan
M. Ranganathan, a native of Theni in Tamil Nadu, was busy cutting a tree on the premises of the Erattupetta Government Higher Secondary School when a sudden downpour disrupted the work. He and his fellow labourers rushed to the school verandah for shelter. As his co-workers stood watching the rain, Ranganathan's gaze turned inward, observing the way a teacher conducted her lesson and engaged her students. His intense, unwavering attention didn't go unnoticed. Curious, Principal Sheeja Salim approached him and asked what had caught his eye. 'Teacher, the teaching methods here are excellent,' Ranganathan replied. Moved by his words, she asked more about his background and was astonished by what she heard. A few minutes later, she did something unexpected. She invited him to deliver a motivational talk to the students. For the past year, Ranganathan has been working in the Pala–Erattupetta region, taking up whatever jobs he could find. But behind those calloused hands lies an academic journey few would ever imagine. In Tamil Hailing from Kombai in Uthamapalayam taluk of Theni district, Ranganathan holds an undergraduate degree from American College, Madurai. He went on to complete a postgraduate degree in Tamil, followed by a BEd and an MEd from institutions in Trichy. He even served briefly as a temporary teacher at his alma mater SKP School in Kombai. But despite his qualifications, financial realities took over. With wages in Kerala offering around ₹300 more per day than in Tamil Nadu, he migrated across the border a year ago. He had taken up the school cleaning job at Erattupetta in the hope of earning enough to pay the application fee for an upcoming job test. Impressed by his background and humility, the school authorities invited him to speak to the Plus Two students earlier this week. 'I was living my dream when the students and teachers gave me a loud round of applause after hearing my story,' Ranganathan said. 'That moment has given me the motivation to move forward in life.' Financial burden Born in 1989 to Murugeshwaran and Saraswathi Amma, Ranganathan lost his mother while he was in Class XI. From then on, he and his sister, Sundari, were raised by their maternal uncle. Though his family supported his education up to the BEd level, he had to shoulder the financial burden of his MEd studies. For six months, he worked at a curry powder manufacturing unit in Perumbavoor to save enough money. Despite his academic achievements, his dream of becoming a full-time teacher remained unfulfilled. despite the setbacks, Ranganathan continues to dream of pursuing a carrier as a teacher as well as a motivational speaker.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
In conversation with Midhun Murali, recipient of National Film Awards for best editing
I first spoke to Midhun Murali in 2012, when he brought out a bunch of short films with his friend from college, Nevin Fradian. Both had just finished their engineering and were nurturing movie dreams, with Midhun focussing on editing. Now, over a decade later, Midhun is basking in the glory of the National Film Awards (2023) for best editing for the film, Pookkaalam, directed by Ganesh Raj. It was double delight for the film's crew since Vijayaraghavan won the national honour for the best supporting actor. 'I was shocked when I heard my name. We were expecting an award for Kuttettan (Vijayaraghavan). My award came out of the blue,' says 36-year-old Midhun. Pookkaalam is only his second film as an editor, the first one being Kalamandalam Hyderali released in 2020. The film tells the heart-warming tale of 100-year-old Ittoop (Vijayaraghavan) and his large extended family. During a function, Ittoop stumbles upon a letter which shatters his relationship with Kochuthresia (KPAC Leela), his wife of 80 years. Midhun says that Vijayaraghavan's performance made Pookkaalam very special for him. The actor was 72 when he played the 100-year-old Ittoop. 'He had given so much for the role, be it through his body language, make-up, dialogues, gestures or mannerisms. My job was cut out for me because he was extraordinary in all the scenes. I wanted to keep all that, but that is not how it works. It was quite a task to choose the best out of the best. I was happy that I could work in a movie that has Kuttettaan's career-best performance.' Midhun mentions that after the first cut, the duration of the film was three hours 15 minutes. 'We reduced it by one hour for which we had to let go off many scenes in which he was superb. When Kuttettan saw the full movie, he was a little disappointed that many scenes were not there.' Midhun is quick to add that KPAC Leela, a veteran theatre actor, also did full justice to her role. The film is divided into chapters in which the story alternates between different time periods. 'There are a lot of visual jumps on account of that. I had to make the narrative seamless. Anend (cinematographer Anend C Chandran) played a crucial role in executing this,' he says. Music by Sachin Warrier also complemented the process, he adds. Midhun says he had fun editing the light-hearted scenes featuring Basil Joseph and Vineeth Sreenivasan. 'The comedy is over-the-top in some instances, but that was reined in by the two actors,' says Midhun, adding, 'Ganesh and Basil have been Vineeth's assistants and so there was a happy vibe on the set.' Midhun recalls that while pursuing his Plus Two, he wanted to become a filmmaker. 'But, in college, I got a chance to edit dance programmes and plays. I realised the potential of the craft and soon started enjoying the process. I think an editor is like a second director. So, probably, once I gather the experience, I might direct a film. We have many editor-directors around,' he says referring to Mahesh Narayanan, Abhinav Sunder Nayak, Appu Bhattathiri and others. Talking about his stint with short films, Midhun remembers Shaaey, one of the films that became popular. 'That was when social media was gaining a hold. The film was widely appreciated. Since I was sure about making movies I did not even try to get a job, which did not go down well with my family. My sister has been extremely supportive though. I did a six-month editing course in Mumbai and assisted an editor in Chennai for some time. By 2014, I turned a freelance editor.' Ganesh has been his acquaintance since 2011. 'We collaborated on a few projects. Unfortunately I could not work in his first film (Aanandam).' Although they were supposed to start shooting Pookkaalam in 2021, the pandemic upset their plans. It took two more years for the film to reach theatres. Midhun says some recognition is coming editors' ways these days. 'People are discussing editors and their style. The scenario is such that there are hundreds of editors out there, the ones who put up reels on social media. Since they know the basics of editing they can judge our work and understand the effort that goes into it.' Shrinking attention spans makes an editor's job challenging, he points out. 'Content and emotion have to be placed correctly,' he says. In this context, he rates Ponman as one of the best-edited Malayalam movies of the recent times. 'It has been adapted from a book. The pace at which the story is told for the screen is brilliant.' Meanwhile, he is waiting for a few new projects to start rolling.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Student goes missing near Pathankayam waterfalls
A Plus Two student from Malappuram district went missing near the Pathankayam waterfalls in Kozhikode district on Sunday. Alan, a 17-year-old from Kacherippadi near Manjeri, disappeared while bathing in the river along with five friends from his village. Despite hours of search operations using drone cameras, rescue teams were unable to locate him. The police said the incident occurred around noon. The search was later suspended in the evening due to adverse weather conditions, they added.
