THIRUVANANTHAPURAN: The SSLC examination results have brought cheers to the Sri Chitra Home for Poor and Infirm (SCH), which has been in the news for all the wrong reasons during the past one year. Amid controversies over poor administration and expulsion of volunteers providing free tuitions, 22 out of the 24 children passed this year’s SSLC examination. Of the 24 students who appeared, 19 are girls.
SCH is home to as many as 301 socially disadvantaged and orphaned children who come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Last year, in the midst of controversy, the SSLC students had come out with their worst performance, with 20 out of the 39 children who appeared failing in the examination. This time, two boys have failed, one in two subjects and the other in one. Of the winning students this year, Sharika B G secured four A-pluses, while Sindhury, Soji K , Sooraj R S and Sujila S got an A-plus each. Archana, Chinnu and other students too presented a good performance.
SCH superintendent Aleyamma Varghese said the authorities had taken special care of the children and provided all support. “I asked senior students to help the SSLC students. Degree students helped them, which proved useful. Also, tuition was arranged in the final two months for Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Hindi,” she said.
The Social Security Mission had submitted a report to the District Collector last year over the poor administration of the SCH. The report had recommended immediate action in structural, personnel and behavioural fields. The then superintendent Elsy Abraham had expelled a group of volunteers who provided free tuition for the students, triggering a major controversy. All these issues were reflected in last year’s results. However, this time, the school’s inmates provided the silver lining.