Page 33 - EW March 2021

Hari Vikasam, a NIOS-affiliated tial learning and acquiring practical
primary-secondary school, by skills to prepare for employment
Chettinad-Niyogaa — the education and life. We thoroughly evaluate
and services wing of the highly-re- and assess each child’s development
spected Chettinad Group (estb.1912) potential and accordingly integrate
under the aegis of the Gandhi Nagar functional academics and skills
S
Education Society. The group owns training programmes,” says aumy a
and manages seven private schools, Rad ji n d ri n , management represen-
including the Chettinad Hari Shree tative at CSS.
Vidyalayam, ranked among Chen- To provide high quality skills
nai’s Top 10 co-ed day schools in training and functional literacy and
the EducationWorld India School numeracy education, the manage-
Rankings 2020-21; ten government- ment has “been collaborating with
aided schools and four colleges special needs education experts”.
across Tamil Nadu with an aggregate For instance, it has signed up with
enrolment of 12,000 students and the Delhi-based AIMS Multimedia
300 teachers. to offer an 18-24 months ability
“Sri Hari Vikasam was promoted enhancement multi-media program
ten years ago with the objective of Muthiah: reworked curriculum (AIMS) in which students learn com-
providing children with special needs munication and graphic design skills.
a safe and stimulating academic well as life skills. Older children and “The objective of all our programmes
learning environment. Our experi- youth are encouraged to enroll in is to prepare students for employ-
ence of the past decade has made us skills training courses including art- ment and equip them with the life
aware that we need to move beyond istry, leafware, organic farming etc. skills needed to lead independent
academic subjects and focus on de- Tuition fees range from Rs.32,000- self-sufficient lives,” says De e p i k a
veloping the life and livelihood skills 35,000 per term. Kaus h i k , coordinator at CSS.
of our children so that they grow into “We admit children and youth Although the pandemic year has
financially independent and produc- diagnosed with a wide spectrum been very challenging for teachers,
tive citizens. Therefore last year, we of disabilities including Down’s students and parents, the school
reworked our curriculum to supple- syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, has managed to maintain learning
ment academic learning with skills ADHD, etc. When the school was continuity of children through the
education and training as well as life affiliated with NIOS, there was pres- virtual mode. “Initially we were hesi-
skills — communication, good man- sure on students, parents and teach- tant about introducing online classes
ners etc — that enhance employabil- ers to prepare and excel in board for special needs children because
ity. To reflect our new orientation, exams. Now the focus is on experien- they need individual attention and
we renamed the school Sath Sadhana CSS classroom scene: experiential & practical skills focus. Inset: Saumya Rajindrin
which translates into ‘achieving one’s
true potential through meaningful
effort and devotion’. Our mission
is to evolve into a centre of holistic
learning that heals, enlivens, equips,
and empowers differently-abled in-
dividuals and their families to realise
their aspirations and potential,” says
G e e t h a M ut h i ah , director and
trustee of Chettinad-Sath Sadhana.
CSS’ pedagogical shift of focus
from academics to skills training and
life skills education is welcomed by
the school’s educators and parents.
Currently, the school admits children
and youth aged between 10-22 with
children aged 10-14 years enrolled in
a functional academics programme
to learn arithmetic and languages as

MARCH 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 33