Source : The Hindu Date : 13.06.2009

Corpn. launches career guidance programme

Special Correspondent

– Photo: K. Ananthan

Wise Speak: Mayor R. Venkatachalam speaking at a career guidance programme at Corporation Siddhapudur Higher Secondary School in the city on Friday.

COIMBATORE: In a measure aimed at raising the standards of the students of its schools to those of elite private institutions in the city, the Coimbatore Corporation launched on Friday a career guidance programme for those studying in classes IX to Plus-Two in the Corporation schools.

It’s a brain-child of Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra. Experts in various fields, including Army officials, would take an hour’s class once a week for the target group of students as part of the programme.

The aim was to enable students from Corporation schools realise their dreams. Superintendent of Police at Jind in Haryana B. Sathish Balan, who was present at the launch, turned out to be the role model for the students to emulate. His case was special because of having been a student of the Coimbatore Corporation’s school at Masakalipalayam in the city.

Citing Mr. Balan’s achievement of getting into the IPS, Mayor R. Venkatachalam said this showed that the students of the Corporation schools could scale great heights if they were focussed on a rewarding career. “We want to provide you with proper guidance and facilities,” he told students at the Corporation school at Sidhapudur.

“The Commissioner has stressed the need to make our students competitive. We will also conduct medical camps to ensure the students were in good health,” the Mayor said.

Mr. Balan said students of Government schools lacked information and guidance on career options. “It is not as though they did not have ambitions.” Given their background, these students would have already faced many tough situations.

Therefore, it would not be difficult for them to overcome hurdles. But, they needed proper guidance.

Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise C. Rajendiran called upon the students to focus on improving confidence-level and communication skill. Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam studied in a Government school, he pointed out.

Deputy Commissioner of the Corporation V. Shanta urged the students to set career goals while in school itself. “Know of the opportunities and choose one based on your strengths,” she said, pointing out that many students chose courses in higher education that they were not interested in and attributed this to pressure from parents. “Job satisfaction is vital and start working early on the options before you,” she said.

Reader in Department of Political Science at Government Arts College P. Kanagaraj explained how to prepare for civil services. Reading newspapers and watching news channels closely every day were some of the requirements. Communication skill, especially in English, was another vital area.

The Hindu is part of the career guidance programme, under the aegis of its Newspaper in Education (NIE) initiative. An NIE co-ordinator explained how The Hindu provided both information and education through its main section and supplements.

She highlighted the areas such as education and employment covered under supplements such as Young World, Education Plus and Opportunities.