10th result: Puducherry govt special school records 100% pass rate for third consecutive year

PUDUCHERRY: A government special school in the Union territory of Puducherry recorded 100% pass rate in the Class 10 examinations for the record third consecutive year.
All the 17 students (seven visually challenged and 10 hearing impaired) of Anandarangapillai government special school for visually handicapped and hearing impaired at Pillaichavady cleared the Class 10 examinations.
P Kamali, a visually challenged student, is the school topper, securing 438 out of 500 marks. She scored 86 in Tamil, 87 in English, 93 in mathematics, 91 in science and 81 in social sciences. The student aspires to become a teacher and help students like her achieve academic excellence.
Daughter of farmhand V Palani and homemaker P Kalaimathi from a village near Ulundurpet in Villupuram district, Kamali was born blind. She attended a regular government school until Class 5 before joining the special school.
"She was born blind due to some nervous problems. Doctors said babies of couples related closely may suffer from such disorders. I married my cousin. We tried all possible medical attention but nothing yielded any result," said Kalaimathi.
Her parents were keen on encouraging her to continue her studies. "She is a brilliant girl and we are planning to admit her at a special school in Chennai for higher education," Kalaimathi said.
Kamili's sister, P Nanthini, a Class 8 student in a government school, who was blessed with vision, was ecstatic about her academic achievements. Her school teacher, Sudarshanan, also visually challenged and an alumni of the school, was her source of inspiration. "I aspire to follow the footsteps of my teacher and help students like me," she said.
K Dilip Kumar claimed the second rank in the school, scoring 407 marks. He was dejected for scoring just 62 in social sciences while securing good marks in other subjects - Tamil 81, English 88, mathematics 94 and science 82. Son of construction worker N Kumar and homemaker K Sheela from Poothurai in Villupuram district, Dilip Kumar lost his vision completely when he was in Class 6 at a government school.
"He started losing vision when he turned five. Diagnosis revealed that his optical nerves have been damaged and doctors ruled out the possibility of restoring his vision," said Kumar.
Despite the loss of vision, he studied in a regular school until Class 8 before joining the special school in Puducherry. His only ambition was to become an English teacher handing special children.
S Saravanan (370 marks) finished third in the school. He top scored in mathematics (97) in the school.