CHENNAI: Two students – BS Tejasvini from Saidapet and A Shobana from Tiruvottiyur, who shifted from private school to Corporation school, have secured the top two ranks in the Class 10 board examination this year.
BS Tejasvini, daughter of government employees, and a student of Chennai Girls Higher Secondary school, Saidapet, secured the top rank – 492 marks – among all Corporation schools.
The top scorer had studied in a private school until Class 6, and shifted to a government school for various reasons in 2023. Later, she shifted to the Corporation school in Saidapet to get better marks in the Class 10 board exams. Tejasvini secured a double centum – one each in science and social science.
Crediting her teachers, headmaster and parents for her achievement, Tejasvini added: “The education department of the city Corporation also motivated us. They provided us with healthy snacks during special classes, which helped us concentrate on our studies. I want to pursue medicine; so I planned to choose a biology group in Class 11.”
Overcoming all odds and the stigma associated with being a resident of north Chennai, A Shobana from Tiruvottiyur, daughter of a clerk at a private transport office, secured the second rank by scoring 491 marks in the board exam.
Despite the financial hardship, her parents had enrolled her in a private school. However, COVID-19 dealt a devastating blow to the family, which encountered innumerable financial hardships. This pushed Shobana to land in Chennai Girls Higher Secondary school, Old Washermenpet.
“In the private school, I was just an average student, but here, the dedication of teachers made me a better student. Teachers and HM are the reason for my success,” said Shobana. “My parents didn’t let the financial situation of our family affect me. They supported me, which made me study well without any distraction. I want to be a doctor; so I’ll be choosing a group with biology as a core subject.”