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Academy of Teaching Excellence

From Meera Suresh's Desk

The month started with the rains which stopped us from conducting the 2nd Internal assessment test as planned on 4/11/17. The test was held on 12/11/17. Again it was a record participation of 34 candidates taking the test. It was a bit tedious to cancel the Internal Test, check and make sure that all had received the information, Fix another date and time and information had to be sent. There were mixed reactions to the postponement and we had to address all the queries and disappointments. But all ended smoothly.

Everyone who had attended the exams, shared that they felt great improvement in preparation and presentation of the papers from the first Internal exams. They felt excited to see their names on the desks and sit there along with other candidates. The candidates were reading and discussing answers till we requested them to put the books aside. Back to college days .Flash backs. It was fun to notice the senior candidates requesting for an additional 5 minutes to refer to a point.

The candidates were in three different rooms with all the shuffled seating arrangements made. The point to be highlighted here is that Hari Krishnan Our Anna was a Supervisor in one of the classes and he has done a great job. Giving out the question papers, additional sheets whenever requested, collecting the papers and course wise. Our last moment savior.

With the rains helping us a bit our long time planned scheduled visit to Annamalai University at Chidambaram finally happened. On 8/11/17 we met the Chief Controller of Examinations Dr.R.M Chandrasekaran, to clarify doubts regarding the December examinations, Case Study presentation and Viva. We also got many other doubts clarified.

ATE Course banner has been put up at Sreyas for Mobilization of the candidates. Awaiting response.

Mobilization visits to Employment Exchanges and MSW department of a few colleges has been going on. Rains of course has been a spoilsport in planning a tight schedule for the visits.

Charumathi Sriram and I met the Chief Education officer of the Government and Government aided schools. He has given us a few guidelines which we will be following. We have requested the CEO to help us meet the heads of schools to create awareness about the course and encourage them to show a way for those children who are not in a position to attend colleges due to financial constrain. We also want to request the HMs to send teachers for the ATE program so that they can help the children in the schools.

A Press meet has been finalized for December 1 (1/12/17) to provide details about the ATE course and request them to insert the same in their newspapers. A prior requisition letter and the course details have been handed over to the concerned head.

Bhaskaran and I had gone again to Annamalai University where we met the Vice Chancellor who has agreed to help us get the RCI at the earliest. His kind self has requested us to send the copy of our earlier letter and a draft highlighting the importance of RCI for his own Understanding. He has promised that he would send the letter to the concerned head of the RCI department in his own letter head and help us get the RCI for the dedicated programs that we are doing for the society.

The results of the 2nd Internal Assessment tests have been positive. The countdown for the Examinations for the first batch of ATE has started. We have handed over the Model question paper and Question bank to the Controller of Examination as requested by him and also offered by us. We have also requested our R.A. Puram Center as the venue for holding the ATE Examinations to be held in December. The CEO has agreed to the same but an official letter of Confirmation is expected soon. They are satisfied with the ambience requests placed by them for the same.

The case Study presentation and Viva has to happen in the first/second week of December and we are waiting for a confirmed date from the CEO's office.

On 28/11/17 we had gone to Trichy and visited our center. It is really very nice and the staff and employees are doing a great job there. I had also taken Shiva, Lekshmi Ramesh and Dr. Santhanam to a school in Srirangam. The Principal and Correspondent were known to me well. We have initiated the talks with them regarding remedial classes and our need to do an Orientation for the teachers to identify students with EI. The strength of the school is around 1400. Waiting for the follow up and response

Candidates needing a placement after the completion of the course were interviewed by Charumathi Sriram, the ATE placement officer. This was to understand their needs and areas where they wanted to be placed, part time or full time etc. All in all a very happening and fulfilling month.