247 TN govt school students get admitted to premium Indian institutions

CHENNAI: Recording a significant jump from previous year, 247 Tamil Nadu government school students will be joining different premium institutions. And, for the first time, two girl students will be joining Taiwan State universities under full scholarship for their undergraduate course.

Chief Minister MK Stalin who interacted with these students on Wednesday, distributed laptops and certificates and congratulated them.

As per department sources, the number of students joining Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) rose to six after clearing JEE advanced entrance exam. Last year, however, only a single government school student from TN joined IIT.

Subsequently, the number of students joining National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) and others by clearing JEE-mains rose to 77 this year, compared to 13 students in 2021-22 academic year.

Additionally, nine government school students to join National Law University from four students last year after clearing Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). And seven students to join the School of Excellence in Law from just a single student last year.

Furthermore, from six students last year, 20 students are set to join central universities by clearing Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and 69 students to join School of Architecture this year from a single student by clearing National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) (qualified).

Though a good number of students are joining reputed institutions this year, the number of government school students joining medicine (MBBS and BDS) after clearing NEET dropped to 8 this year from 49 students.

Meanwhile, this year, the government school students for the time have also joined institutions like forensics and maritime.

For the first time, six students each to join National Forensics Science University and Indian Maritime University, 27 students to National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) after clearing and ten students are set to join Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).

Speaking to DT NEXT, M Sudharkar, a student set to join NIT-Kozhikode on August 17 said, "I secured 482 marks out of 500 in class 12 exam and did not go to any tuitions or classes at government model school. I prepared with the help of teaching from the Tirunelveli higher secondary school."

Sudharkar, a son of a farmer, says his family is delighted by the opportunity and his hard work paying off. "I initially planned for IIT-Trichy, but I am excited to venture to the new region too, "he added.