Newspaper In Education Programme
K. Ramasamy, Chairman, Roots Group of Companies, sharing a lighter moment with one of the students of Bharathi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, after the launch of the Newspaper in Education programme in the city on Tuesday. (Right) G. Bakthavatsalam, Chairman, K.G. Hospital, interacting with students after launching the programme at Perks Matriculation Higher Secondary School. When it began in 2004 even the daily did not think that it will carry its novel school programme into the fourth successful year. The programme is the Newspaper in Education (NIE) and the daily is The Hindu. The programme, designed by the newspaper for schoolchildren, helps develop their personality through various training programmes conducted by professionals. In addition to teaching children skimming and note making, it also strives to make them confident citizens through classes in public speaking, communication and spoken English skills. Every year, the number of schools joining and renewing the programme keeps increasing. It has reached out to 153 schools and 65,000 children in three years. The programme for this academic year took off with a formal launch at two schools here on Tuesday. Students of Bharathi Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Perks Matriculation Higher Secondary School were told of the advantages of reading a newspaper from their school days at the launch of the programme. The speakers, from the industry, the press and the school, explained the benefits of the programme. K. Ramasamy, Chairman, Roots Group of Companies, and Managing Trustee of Satchidananda Vidya Niketan, launching the second edition of the programme at Bharathi MHSS, told students that the wealth of information one got from a newspaper could not be measured.
“Well read people have a very good perspective of life. From the beginning you should try to pack more in whatever you do. When you read a newspaper, you cannot match the knowledge assimilation that is derived out of it. The NIE programme is a very good opportunity for students to develop themselves. In addition to offering authentic information in their daily, the newspaper tries to mould good citizens from the school stage through this programme,” Mr. Ramasamy said. While lauding the fact that Indians were recognised for their intelligence and hard work, he also mentioned the fact that they lacked in in-depth knowledge. “Whatever knowledge they possess is extremely superficial. This should be addressed. Introducing a child to a newspaper may be the simplest, yet profound way of initiating him/her to a knowledge resource,” he added.
K.V. Prasad, Deputy Chief of Bureau, The Hindu, Coimbatore, said: “Usually we see people starting to learn English or communication skills only after they have completed a professional course. You are all getting an opportunity to learn these skills from Std VI through this programme. Our aim is to extend the programme to another 80 schools this academic year.”Two students, who were part of the NIE programme last year, shared their experiences with the gathering. Principal of the school Bhuvana Anand said the programme “provided the students with life skills that really mattered”.
Students had a lively interaction with Mr. Ramasamy and D. Rajkumar, Regional General Manager, The Hindu, Coimbatore, on being successful, life in a newspaper office, and other interesting topics. G. Bakthavatsalam, Chairman, K.G. Hospital, launching the first edition of the programme at Perks MHSS, said: “Reading only subject books is not enough. Then it becomes education for a living. Education for life cannot be derived from subject books. You should inculcate the reading habit from a young age.”
He urged the students to read the newspaper everyday. “The Hindu has almost attained the role of a teacher. There are thousands of people working to bring the news to our homes every morning. It is in our interest to read it; for our own betterment,” Dr. Bakthavatsalam said. G. Satyamurty, Chief of Bureau, The Hindu, Coimbatore, told the students that being informed made one emboldened and strengthened. “The NIE programme not only brings you the daily so that you can get information, but also tries to establish the importance of newspapers in education.”
Kalpana Srinivasan, Correspondent of the school, said the programme “initiated a change from stereotyped learning for the students”. Here too, the students interacted with Dr. Bhaktavatsalam and elicited valuable inputs from his experience. D. Rajkumar, NIE Co-ordinator for The Hindu, spoke.
