“Super 100” scholarships for 103 students - SmartLearnWebTV

CHENNAI: SmartLearnWebTV, in association with The Hindu Education Plus, has selected 103 students from across the State as the first recipients of its “Super 100” scholarships.

Inspired by the original “Super 30” programme in Bihar, the scheme aims to increase Tamil Nadu’s share of students in the IITs and NITs by providing training, mentoring and guidance from senior professors and IIT alumni through SmartLearn’s online video platform.

“The thinking behind the programme is sound,” said N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, who distributed the scholarships to 30 of the Chennai students. He outlined the dilemma of Indian education.

“The pursuit of excellence is important, but that’s not enough if the benefits are only going to a small elite group, of a certain socio-economic class…We need to open the gates wide and increase access,” he said, adding that it was time for the IITs to increase their intake.

In the meanwhile, schemes such as SmartLearn’s Super 100 could help expand IIT dreams and training to students outside the large cities and major coaching centres. In its debut year, 61 of the selected students hail from Chennai. However, SmartLearn’s chief executive K. Swaminathan says that in the future, more scholarships would be awarded in the hinterlands of the State. Already, of the 2,000-odd applicants, several came from small towns. SmartLearn has announced that all applicants will now be offered a 50 per cent discount if they still want to participate in the programme.

Students need a computer with broadband access to make full use of the scholarship scheme, which has an overall value of Rs. 25 lakh. The online delivery method would help “make learning comfortable, convenient and comprehensive”, said Sheela Rajendra, correspondent of the PSBB Group of Schools. “You are fortunate to have such knowledgeable, experienced professors literally coming to your doorstep,” she told the students.

Mr. Ram noted that India is still lagging behind in the rate of broadband penetration.

“To take programmes like this to every section of society, we must overcome the digital divide…Hopefully, Tamil Nadu will lead the way,” he said.

-From The Hindu