[Assam] IIT-G students turn teachers for village kids (The Times of India)

[Buljit Buragohain]

IIT-G students turn teachers for village kids 
29 Mar 2009, 2330 hrs IST, Rajiv Konwar , TNN 

GUWAHATI: Of the many Slumdog-inspired success stories, this one's perhaps the best. Scripted by IITians, this gameplan' is a dream come true for  
numerous children in the IIT-G's neighbouring villages., It's called "Zero Illiteracy Zone". And no, it's not another movie on the same lines. Instead, it is an earnest effort by a bunch of engineering students to educate kids and strengthen their foundations. For the last six months, they have been picking up students from Class I to Class X from the neighbouring villages and conducting regular classes for them., The students have converted IIT-G into a learning classroom where anyone can come and learn through interaction with volunteering IIT-G students. At least 160 students have profited from their zero-illiteracy drive. After returning from class, these young talents devote at least an hour of their valuable time, four days a week, to these students with an aim to "contribute something to society". They conduct the classes within the Kendriya Vidyalaya, located in the IIT-G premises., Many of the pupils have made significant progress after
 attending these classes. On Saturday and Sunday, the IIT-G volunteer students felicitated the students who made satisfactory progress. "We have felicitated the students who have shown remarkable success in the examination we held recently. The other students have also been given consolation prizes," said Ashish Kakran, general secretary of IIT-G Students' Welfare Board., "The idea that, as students of one of the country's most prestigious institutes, we can contribute to society directly during our student life inspired us to take up the drive," Ashish professed, adding, "During the teaching period, we were astonished to discover that many students who had passed the middle primary level didn't even know simple additions and subtractions. Moreover, they were miserably week in Hindi and English communication.", These students believe their participation in such social service will help bridge the gap between the elite institute and the locals. It will
 also motivate villagers to encourage their children to pursue higher education., The teaching sessions were not only for the youngsters in villages. They also benefited the Grade IV employees of the institute. The IIT-G students have been conducting English speaking classes for security guards so that they can converse with visitors from abroad. "These guards have started speaking in English," Ashish said. 
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Guwahati/IIT-G-students-turn-teachers-for-village-kids/articleshow/4331646.cms
 


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