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The colleges, a joint initiative of the Corporation, the Rotary Club of Madras East, Exnora International and Complete Business Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. (CBSI), conduct one-year courses. Launched in March 1999, they are initially teaching life-coping skills: self-motivation, personality development, improvement of communication and language skills. The second half of the course is based on workshop experience and consists of in-house training imparted by corporate entities in various fields. Every student is given vocational training in computer software, hardware, hotel management, office management, nursing or the servicing of automobiles - any one course of his or her choice. A few more options are to be introduced soon.
With the support of the Rotary Club of Marina, students recently got to learn Japanese and acquire relevant computer education. G. Kavitha, a community college student, was recruited by CBSI. "The language skills that are imparted help us not only to increase our familiarity with a language but also give us a lot of confidence, she says. "Now I really enjoy my work at CBSI." R. Lakshmi, director of the Chennai Corporation Community College, Beemannapet, Mylapore, says "There are at least 50 girl students in each batch who get employed through this course. This facility prevents these girls from becoming servant maids or daily-wage-earners in an export concern, working from dawn to dusk." Says another girl who took a community college course: "I am working as an administrative assistant in an office, and I save some money for computer education. I am happy that I am able to support my family. Soon we will be able to find a small house and move out of the slum in which we live."
The Corporation has applied to the universities in the state to recognise the one-year course as equivalent to their first-year courses for undergraduates. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has already accepted the proposal, and a few students are on their way to becoming graduates. The community college concept is the brainchild of R Karikal Valavan, former Deputy Commissioner of Education in the Chennai Corporation. Thanks to the special interest shown by Mayor M.K. Stalin, it has won funds and early approval from the Corporation. V. Mangala Bhavani |
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The Corporation of Chennai is setting an example in the field of education for the underprivileged. It has introduced a concept called community colleges for students who have completed their school final but cannot afford higher education.
Leading
Chennai-based establishments in the automobile industry have undertaken not only to train the community college students but to recruit them as well. CBSI is to recruit three of the best girl students every year. Hotel management trainees are being offered placements in leading groups of hotels.
So far the college staff have been deputed from Corporation schools, and computer teachers are sponsored by the companies. Teething troubles persist. The colleges still await the approval, and allotment of funds, by the state government.