Chennai: An ancient concept of education is being employed in modern times by Ashok Nagar Anjaneyar Bhaktha Sabha. Through Gurukulam they have been conducting free tuition classes for government school students on the temple premises for the last two decades. Around 250 students between class 10 and 12 are enrolled now, where the classes are held between 6 pm and 8 pm.
The temple trust, which runs Gurukalam, also provides school uniforms and notebooks for the students.
Those who have studied here volunteer to teach the students in order to give back to society what they got. There are 15 teachers in Gurukulam, of which 10 studied here earlier. Most of the former students work as teachers in nearby government and private schools.
Temple trust member R Krishnamoorthi said, “We don’t pay regular salary to the teachers, but we give them convenience fees. Some are even coming from Puducherry to teach the students during the weekend.”
They are also teaching the students self-respect, discipline, helping senior citizens, social work and life lessons. “Students studying in class 10, 11 and 12 have attitudinal problem. Most of them don’t respect their parents and elders, but we change all that by teaching them values,” Krishnamoorthi added.
The temple trust also provides scholarship to deserving students after they complete class 12.
Students from socially and economically backward sections and those who have scored 70 per cent in board examinations are eligible for the scholarship.
After verification and personal interview, the trust provides a part of the total tuition fees for the selected students. For engineering course, scholarship is Rs 10,000 per year and for arts-related courses, Rs 7,500 per year. Scholarship is given to around 200 to 300 students based on their need.
Krishnamoorthi thanked the regular devotees who contribute to the initiative as without them they wouldn’t be running it successfully from 1996, he said. Sanan Raj, a class 12 student, said, “At Gurukulam, the teacher teaches us better than in school. I studied here and cleared class 10 board exam. I will score good marks in Plus-Two exam also. Teachers here motivate us all the time.”
Another student, Gayathri, said, “First my mother asked me to come and join here, but I said no. My class 10 marks were very low. I had a doubt whether I would clear my class 11 exam. After studying here, I have become sincere and attend classes regularly.”
Ashok Nagar Anjaneyar Bhaktha Sabha Trust member Krishnamoorthi can be reached at 94444 44402.